BYU guard Robert Wright III (1) passes the ball to forward Dominique Diomande during the Big 12 tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
Dave McCann
By Dave McCann
Dave McCann is a sportswriter and columnist for the Deseret News and is a play-by-play announcer and show host for BYUtv/ESPN+.

AJ Dybantsa dominating at the Big 12 tournament is old news. It’s what he does — and he did it again Wednesday in BYU’s 68-48 second-round win against West Virginia. However, Dominique Diomande being a game changer is a head turner, and the unheralded freshman from Paris, France, was a difference maker the moment he checked into the game.

In the absence of Richie Saunders and with a need for some energy, BYU coach Kevin Young played Diomande for eight minutes in the first half, which was eight more minutes than he played in BYU’s 79-71 defeat at West Virginia on Feb. 28.

The 6-foot-7 forward entered the first half sporting a season average of 1.7 points and 1.2 rebounds and 0.5 steals in 6.4 minutes — hardly a résumé the Mountaineers had to worry about — and they didn’t and Diomande made them pay.

With 9:02 remaining in the first half, the game’s newcomer logged his first steal and 18 seconds later, he caught a lob pass from Dybantsa and threw down his first dunk to give BYU a 15-11 lead with 8:44 to go.

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At 8:04, Diomande came up with another steal. This time he raced to the other end of the floor and threw down a spectacular windmill dunk to put the Cougars up 17-11 with 8:01 to play.

At 5:48, he blocked a shot that led to a Dybantsa basket to push the lead to 23-15.

At 3:17, Diomande grabbed another steal. His first half body of work read like a player who gets a lot of work — eight minutes, four points, three steals, one block and a lot of spirited defense.

While all of this was going on, Dybantsa was putting on his own show, scoring 17 points in the first half.

Diomande entered the second half with 14:04 to play and grabbed a rebound. Three minutes later, with 11:04 to go, he caught another lob from a driving Dybantsa and dunked the Cougars to a 43-35 lead.

Dybantsa (27 points), Kennard Davis Jr. (20 points) and company did the rest to extend BYU’s stay in the tournament.

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BYU guard Robert Wright III (1) shoots a floater over West Virginia Mountaineers guard Jasper Floyd (1) during the second half of the game in the second round of the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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BYU forward Dominique Diomande (24) dunks over West Virginia Mountaineers guard Chance Moore (13) during the second half of the game in the second round of the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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BYU head coach Kevin Young waves to the fans as he exits the court after BYU defeated the West Virginia Mountaineers 68-48 in the second round of the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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BYU guard Jared McGregor (51) celebrates a three-pointer by guard Kennard Davis Jr. (30), not pictured, with his teammates on the bench during the second half of the game against the West Virginia Mountaineers in the second round of the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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BYU guard Kennard Davis Jr. (30) watches his three-pointer fly during the second half of the game against the West Virginia Mountaineers in the second round of the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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BYU guard Kennard Davis Jr. (30) shoots a three-pointer over West Virginia Mountaineers guard Chance Moore (13) during the second half of the game in the second round of the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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BYU forward AJ Dybantsa (3) drives past West Virginia Mountaineers guard Chance Moore (13) during the second half of the game in the second round of the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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BYU guard Kennard Davis Jr. (30) looks on during a press conference after BYU defeated the West Virginia Mountaineers 68-48 in the second round of the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Kansas City Chiefs head coach and BYU alumni Andy Reid looks on as he attends a game between BYU and the West Virginia Mountaineers in the second round of the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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BYU forward AJ Dybantsa (3) reacts as the ball slips away from him during the second half of the game against the West Virginia Mountaineers in the second round of the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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BYU forward Khadim Mboup (7) blocks a lay up attempt by West Virginia Mountaineers center Harlan Obioha (55) during the second half of the game in the second round of the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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BYU forward AJ Dybantsa (3) speaks with a Red Bull sitting in front of him during a press conference after BYU defeated the West Virginia Mountaineers 68-48 in the second round of the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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BYU forward AJ Dybantsa (3) looks on during a timeout during the second half of the game against the West Virginia Mountaineers in the second round of the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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BYU forward AJ Dybantsa (3) looks to pass around West Virginia Mountaineers guard Chance Moore (13) during the first half of the game in the second round of the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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BYU guard Robert Wright III (1) passes the ball to forward Dominique Diomande (24) during the second half of the game in the second round of the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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BYU forward Khadim Mboup (7) defends West Virginia Mountaineers forward Brenen Lorient (0) during the first half of the game in the second round of the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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BYU head coach Kevin Young sets the play during the second half of the game against the West Virginia Mountaineers in the second round of the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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BYU guard Kennard Davis Jr. (30) defends West Virginia Mountaineers guard Amir Jenkins (2) during the first half of the game in the second round of the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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BYU forward Dominique Diomande (24) dunks during the first half of the game against the West Virginia Mountaineers in the second round of the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Players fight for a rebound during the first half of the game between BYU and the West Virginia Mountaineers in the second round of the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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BYU guard Robert Wright III (1) calls for the ball during the first half of the game against the West Virginia Mountaineers in the second round of the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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BYU guard Kennard Davis Jr. (30) and forward Khadim Mboup (7) grab a rebound over West Virginia Mountaineers guard Treysen Eaglestaff (52) during the first half of the game in the second round of the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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West Virginia Mountaineers head coach Ross Hodge reacts to a turnover during the first half of the game against BYU in the second round of the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes looks on as he attends a game between BYU and the West Virginia Mountaineers in the second round of the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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BYU guard Robert Wright III (1) takes the ball up court during the first half of the game against the West Virginia Mountaineers in the second round of the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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BYU forward AJ Dybantsa (3) celebrates with forward Dominique Diomande (24) and guard Aleksej Kostić (6) after a dunk by Diomande during the first half of the game against the West Virginia Mountaineers in the second round of the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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BYU forward Dominique Diomande (24) dunks during the first half of the game against the West Virginia Mountaineers in the second round of the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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West Virginia Mountaineers guard Honor Huff (3) gestures to the bench after making a three-pointer during the first half of the game against BYU in the second round of the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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West Virginia Mountaineers head coach Ross Hodge calls out to his players during the first half of the game against BYU in the second round of the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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BYU forward Khadim Mboup (7) defends West Virginia Mountaineers forward Brenen Lorient (0) during the first half of the game in the second round of the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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BYU forward AJ Dybantsa (3) drives to the basket for a lay up during the first half of the game against the West Virginia Mountaineers in the second round of the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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BYU guard Robert Wright III (1) drives past West Virginia Mountaineers guard Jasper Floyd (1) during the first half of the game in the second round of the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News

As for a surprising trend, for the second straight night, Diomande found a way to make a difference. During Tuesday’s first-round win against Kansas State, he played 16 minutes and scored 6 points with four rebounds and three steals.

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Comments

Researchers have long contended that it takes 21 days to form a new habit. BYU doesn’t have that long. The Cougars are deep into the first of two tournaments where a loss sends them home. They need bench support and they need it now — and Diomande is giving it to them.

His productivity has helped BYU earn a Thursday night date against No. 5 Houston in the quarterfinals (5 p.m. MDT, ESPN2). Again, the focus will be on Dybantsa, Davis and Rob Wright III, which opens the door for a guy like Diomande to do his thing.

So far, his thing has been the big surprise in Kansas City.

BYU forward AJ Dybantsa (3) celebrates with forward Dominique Diomande (24) and guard Aleksej Kostić (6) after a dunk by Diomande during game against West Virginia Big 12 tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News

Dave McCann is a sportswriter and columnist for the Deseret News and is a play-by-play announcer and show host for BYUtv/ESPN+. He co-hosts “Y’s Guys” at ysguys.com and is the author of the children’s book “C is for Cougar,” available at deseretbook.com.

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