The Boston Garden witnessed a classic college basketball showdown on November 15 as No. 3 UConn held off a furious second-half comeback from No. 7 BYU, escaping with a nail-biting 86-84 victory. What looked like a comfortable Huskies win turned into a heart-pounding thriller when freshman sensation AJ Dybantsa took over the game, nearly single-handedly bringing the Cougars back from the brink of defeat in front of his hometown crowd.
The game showcased everything college basketball fans crave: elite talent, dramatic momentum swings, and clutch plays down the stretch. For UConn, it was a statement win that reinforced their credentials as a Final Four contender. For BYU, it was a heartbreaking loss that proved they belong among the nation's elite—but also exposed some vulnerabilities that could haunt them later in the season.
UConn's Balanced Firepower Overwhelms Early
The Huskies came out firing on all cylinders, controlling the first half with their signature balanced attack.
UConn shot an impressive 57% from the field compared to BYU's
49%, and their ball movement was surgical—the team recorded
21 assists on just 30 field goals, a testament to their unselfish play.
Three different Huskies scored 21 points each, showcasing the depth that makes Dan Hurley's squad so dangerous.
Silas Demary Jr. led the charge with 21 points and excellent playmaking, while
Alex Karaban (8-of-11 from the floor) and
Tarris Reed Jr. (8-of-10 with 8 rebounds) provided the inside-outside punch that kept BYU's defense scrambling all night.
By halftime, UConn had built a commanding 43-32 lead, and it appeared the Huskies would cruise to an easy victory. The game seemed destined to be a coronation rather than a competition.
Dybantsa's Second-Half Explosion Changes Everything
Then came the second half, and with it,
AJ Dybantsa's coming-out party. The highly touted BYU freshman, who grew up just outside Boston and is considered a potential
No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, took over the game with a dominant performance that had the crowd on edge.
Dybantsa finished with
25 points, nearly all of them coming when it mattered most. Playing in front of his hometown fans, the 6-foot-9 forward showcased the offensive versatility and athleticism that made him the nation's top recruit. He attacked the rim relentlessly, knocked down crucial shots, and kept BYU's comeback hopes alive when they seemed all but extinguished.
Richie Saunders added 17 points and
Robert Wright III chipped in 16 as the Cougars mounted their second-half assault. But here's the problem:
BYU managed just seven assists on 29 baskets, a stark contrast to UConn's ball movement and a sign that the Cougars were relying too heavily on isolation basketball rather than the team game.
The Dramatic Finish
With under a minute to play, the game hung in the balance.
Dybantsa dropped in a layup to cut UConn's lead to 82-77, and suddenly the Cougars had life. Two free throws by Demary made it 84-79, but
Dawson Baker's three-pointer cut the margin to just two points, setting up a frantic final sequence.
Malachi Smith was fouled and hit one of two free throws, but the Cougars couldn't capitalize on their chance to tie.
Demary knocked the ball away from Wright on a crucial possession, and
Solo Ball's free throw pushed the lead back to four with 18 seconds remaining—enough cushion for UConn to survive.
BYU's Off-Court Troubles
The loss was particularly frustrating for BYU because they played without
starting point guard Kennard Davis Jr., who was arrested on suspicion of DUI following a crash in Utah on Thursday. Coach Kevin Young announced that Davis has been
suspended indefinitely for violating team rules, a significant blow to a team that relies on his playmaking and leadership.
Without Davis orchestrating the offense, BYU's ball movement suffered noticeably, forcing the Cougars into a more isolation-heavy approach that, while producing points from Dybantsa, ultimately proved less efficient than UConn's team-oriented system.
What's Next
For UConn, this victory cements their status as a legitimate national championship contender. The Huskies' ability to weather BYU's second-half storm while maintaining their composure in crunch time is exactly what tournament teams need.
For BYU, the loss stings, but Dybantsa's performance offers hope. If the Cougars can get healthy and develop better ball movement around their star freshman, they'll remain dangerous. However, this game served as a reminder that individual brilliance, no matter how spectacular, sometimes isn't enough against a well-coached, balanced team.
The 86-84 final score doesn't capture how close this game truly was—or how much both teams proved they belong in the conversation for a deep tournament run.
1.
Connecticut Huskies vs. BYU Cougars Live Score and Stats - CBS Sports2.
UConn Survives Dominant Second Half From BYU's AJ Dybantsa - Sports Illustrated3.
UConn 86-84 BYU Game Recap - ESPN4.
Dan Hurley on No. 3 UConn Holding Off No. 7 BYU - Fox Sports
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2. Is Natural Grass Dying in College Football?
3. UConn Survives Dominant Second Half From BYU's AJ ...
4. Best Weekend Podcasts (2025)
5. UConn 86-84 BYU (Nov 15, 2025) Game Recap
6. Dan Hurley on No. 3 UConn Holding Off No. 7 BYU
7. AJ Dybantsa goes off in return to Boston!
8. BYU vs Connecticut Basketball Game Summary
9. UConn 86-84 BYU (Nov 15, 2025) Final Score
10. No. 7 BYU Cougars vs. No. 3 UConn Huskies Highlights
