'Toughness we can build on': AJ Dybantsa, No. 8 BYU face Holy Cross

Fans in Provo, Utah, can watch highly touted freshman AJ Dybantsa play for the first time in a regular-season game when No. 8 BYU opens its home schedule Saturday night against Holy Cross.

BYU is coming off a 71-66 season-opening victory Monday over Villanova at Las Vegas in a game in which Dybantsa finished with 21 points, six rebounds and three assists.

He scored 13 points to help withstand a late surge by the Wildcats, including six points during a 10-0 run that erased a two-point deficit and gave the Cougars a 67-59 lead with 1:50 remaining.

"Down the stretch, we put the ball in his hands and he made plays," BYU coach Kevin Young said. "For his first game to have that kind of composure, I thought was impressive. That's toughness we can build on."

Veteran guard Richie Saunders had 15 points and a team-high-tying seven rebounds for the Cougars. He extended his streak of made free throws to 29 dating to last season.

"The Villanova win was a huge step for us, showing the guys they can battle with anyone, but we made too many mistakes," Young said, referencing shooting only 39.4% from the floor (26 of 66) and 29.4% from 3-point range (5 of 17).

"We have to respect every opponent, and Holy Cross is a disciplined team that will punish us if we aren't focused," Young continued. "Our emphasis this week is on defensive consistency and eliminating those empty possessions. We need to come out and set the tone early."

Holy Cross lost its season opener 89-79 on Monday at Providence despite sophomore guard Tyler Boston scoring a game-high 25 points and producing a team-high six assists.

Boston was 6 of 13 from the field and 10 of 11 from the free-throw line. His season was cut short last year in December after he broke a bone in his right foot.

"Tyler is everything you want in a point guard," junior teammate Joe Nugent said. "He's super vocal, super outgoing and super level-headed, always with the team's best interest at the front of his mind. It will be awesome to play a full season with him."

Holy Cross will have difficulty matching up against BYU's athletic 6-foot-9 forward Keba Keita, who had eight points, seven rebounds and three blocked shots against Villanova.

Keita also made 4 of 5 shots from the field, most of them dunks on putbacks or in transition.

Holy Cross coach Dave Paulsen has two players from Texas in a frontcourt that includes 6-6 sophomore forward Aidan Richard of San Antonio and 6-7 freshman forward Aiden Disu of Buda.

Richard led the Crusaders with 10 rebounds against Providence. Disu started and produced 16 points, five rebounds and two steals in his debut.

"Aiden brings excellent size, versatility and skill to our program," Paulsen said. "He is a complete player able to play multiple positions on the floor."

The Crusaders will try to end BYU's nine-game regular-season winning streak, the Cougars' longest since 2019-20.

--Field Level Media