AJ Dybantsa and Rob Wright each scored over 30 and BYU ended a 4-game skid in a 99-94 win over Baylor Tuesday night in Waco.
Baylor had no answers for Dybantsa, who put up 36 points, 7 assists, and 5 rebounds on 14-20 shooting from the floor. Rob Wright was great in his return game to Baylor, putting up a career-high 30 points versus a crowd that booed and jeered him each time he touched the ball. Richie Saunders was 0-5 from three, but scored 15 points and grabbed 9 rebounds.
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The x-factor in the game was Khadim Mboup, who played 27 minutes and grabbed 10 rebounds. Mboup played most of those minutes at the five and his ability to switch on Baylor’s 4-guard lineup allowed BYU to extend the lead by as much as 17 points. BYU turned Baylor’s 13 turnovers into 24 points off turnovers.
Baylor raced out to a 33-21 lead behind a 6-7 start from three, but BYU held the Bears to 7 points in the final 8:32 of the first half and went into halftime tied at 41. BYU played much better defense in the second half and got the lead up to 17 with 5 minutes remaining, and a late Baylor surge gave them a chance and made the final score respectable.
Baylor star freshman Tounde Yessoufou put 37 points and gave BYU problems most of the night, BYU’s defense looked much improved the middle portion of the game and slowed down Baylor to put the game out of reach.
This win for BYU was BYU’s fifth Quad 1 win of the season for BYU and first in Big 12 play. BYU next hosts Colorado Saturday in Provo in what is BYU’s easiest remaining game of the season.
