Arizona Survives BYU Rally, Stays Perfect

BREAKING: No. 1 Arizona walked out of Provo with its perfect record still intact, and it took real steel to do it. The Wildcats survived a frantic late charge from No. 13 BYU, closed the door in the final seconds, and tied the best start in program history. This one felt like March. It was loud, tense, and decided by poise.

A survive and advance night in Provo

Arizona controlled long stretches with defense and pace. The Wildcats used strong guard play to settle the game early, then leaned on rim protection and patient half court sets to quiet runs. BYU kept swinging. The crowd kept roaring. Each time Arizona slipped, it found a timely stop.

Then AJ Dybantsa lit the fuse. The BYU wing took over the final minutes with fearless drives and confident jumpers. He hit tough shots, hunted contact, and brought the game to the edge. Arizona answered with a pair of mature possessions and clean rebounds. The Wildcats did not blink. Championship teams win this type of road test.

Arizona shows title poise

This was the kind of night that shapes a season. Arizona handled a hostile building, endless pressure, and a player who caught fire. The Wildcats were clear on who they wanted to be. They protected the ball, won 50 50 plays, and trusted their depth.

Tommy Lloyd’s group has a balanced look. The backcourt manages tempo and gets them into sets. The wings defend in space and turn rebounds into transition. The bigs wall up, use length, and force tough finishes. When BYU turned up the heat, Arizona stayed connected. The final minutes were textbook. Take air out of the ball, get two feet in the paint, make free throws, then finish possessions with a body on a body.

This win says as much about mentality as it does about talent. The Wildcats did not need style points. They needed answers. They found them, possession by possession.

BYU is for real, and AJ Dybantsa just announced himself

Do not let the loss blur the truth. BYU looked like a second weekend team. The Cougars defended with conviction. They cut hard, spaced the floor, and never stopped testing Arizona’s legs. The late surge was not luck. It was belief and pace.

Dybantsa’s star turn

Dybantsa changed the game with pure shot making. He attacked switches, rose over contests, and refused to fade. The building fed off his swagger. He created rhythm for everyone around him. The result was a furious closing run that put Arizona on the ropes.

For BYU, his emergence is a gift. It gives them a closer in tight games and a north star in big moments. It also changes how teams scout them. Help late, and he finds shooters. Stay home, and he gets to his spots. That is a tough cover for anyone.

Betting ripple effects and what it means next

This matchup carried weight in every corner of the sport. Bettors circled it all week. DFS players targeted high minute guards and late game scorers. Props tied to Dybantsa’s points and Arizona’s closing pieces were live until the horn. It was that kind of game, a nail biter that rewarded composure.

The bigger takeaway sits beyond the ticket window. Arizona proved it can take a punch and still throw the last one. Road wins with chaos and noise are currency in March. The Wildcats banked a big one tonight. For BYU, the film is gold. The Cougars found a closing lineup they trust. They also found a go to option who thrives when the lights burn hottest.

Here are the turning points that swung it:

• Arizona’s guards settled the offense after BYU’s run.
• A key defensive stop at the rim halted momentum.
• Clean defensive rebounds ended extra BYU chances.
• Late free throws under pressure sealed the result.

The bottom line

Arizona left with a statement and a streak still breathing. BYU left with belief, and a new star roaring into form. In a season that will test every favorite, this was a true measuring stick. The Wildcats showed title mettle. The Cougars showed staying power. If we see this matchup again in March, clear your schedule. It might be even better.