AJ Dybantsa tallied 28 points, nine rebounds and six assists and Robert Wright III hit the game-winning 3-pointer as time expired to rally No. 10 BYU to a 67-64 victory over Clemson at the Jimmy V Classic on Tuesday in New York.
Wright finished 17 points and redeemed himself from missing a free throw in the final seconds. Keba Keita added 10 points, seven rebounds and three blocks to help the Cougars (8-1) earn their fifth straight victory, all away from Provo.
BYU’s rally from a 22-point deficit after halftime was the biggest second-half comeback in program history.
Jestin Porter led Clemson with 17 points. RJ Godfrey added 13 points and Efrem Johnson chipped in 10 for the Tigers. Clemson (7-3) shot 25.9% from the field in the second half, opening the door for BYU to rally.
After trailing by 21 points at halftime, BYU erased the deficit behind a dominant second-half performance by Dybantsa. He scored 22 points after halftime while going 7-of-11 from the field and 8-of-8 from the free-throw line. Dybantsa scored or assisted on 34 of BYU’s 45 second-half points.
Keita made three dunks, each assisted by Dybantsa, and then Dybantsa threw down another himself to put the Cougars up 62-56 with 1:10 left.
Dillon Hunter scored a pair of baskets — including a tying layup with 5.5 seconds remaining. Wright answered with the game-winner moments later.
Clemson played tough defense, stifling BYU on possession after possession late in the first half. The Tigers forced 10 straight missed shots and three turnovers while holding BYU scoreless over the final 6:58 before halftime.
It opened the door for Clemson to close the half on a 21-0 run and build a 43-22 lead.
Godfrey ignited the run with a dunk following a missed free throw and followed with a layup two possessions later. Johnson and Porter punctuated the run by making three straight 3-pointers.
BYU shot just 28.1% from the field in the first half and went 2-of-13 from 3-point range.
The Cougars opened the second half strong, using a 20-4 run to cut the deficit to 47-42. Dybantsa made four baskets to fuel the rally.
Clemson was ice cold throughout the second half. The Tigers made just two baskets through the first 15 minutes of the half while missing 18 of their first 20 shots coming out of the locker room.
–Field Level Media
