KISSIMMEE, Florida — The Brigham Young University (BYU) Cougars overcame a halftime deficit to secure an 83-79 victory against the Dayton Flyers on November 24, 2023, clinching the ESPN Events Invitational championship. This latest win highlights a recurring trend for BYU this season, where they have consistently rallied in the second half to transform games.
Entering the second half down by four points, BYU faced an early challenge as Dayton opened the period with a three-pointer. However, the Cougars quickly responded with a dominant 15-0 run, fueling a 26-4 scoring streak that flipped the momentum in their favor. This marked the second time in as many days that BYU executed a strong second-half performance, having previously transformed a 29-33 score against Miami into a decisive 72-62 win.
Although Dayton put up a stronger fight in the closing stages compared to Miami, BYU’s clutch performance sealed their victory. With the score tied at 67 points and under four minutes remaining, Rob Wright III hit a crucial three-pointer, followed by a response from Dayton. Yet, Richie Saunders delivered back-to-back triples and secured three free throws to maintain BYU’s advantage.
Reflecting on the game, head coach Kevin Young remarked, “They took it to us, honestly, to start the game. I thought our decision making in the second half was much better.” Young emphasized the importance of adjusting their defensive strategies, which allowed the Cougars to regain control.
The trio of Wright, Saunders, and AJ Dybantsa emerged as key players, contributing a combined total of 70 points. Saunders led the charge with a career-high 29 points, alongside eight rebounds and six three-pointers. His performance earned him the title of Most Valuable Player of the tournament, averaging 18.5 points, six rebounds, and four assists over the two games played at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.
Wright added 23 points and six assists, while Dybantsa contributed 18 points alongside four rebounds. The team collectively shot an impressive 51.8% from the field, with a notable 65.6% shooting percentage in the second half.
Despite the victory, concerns arose regarding BYU’s bench performance, as they failed to score any points throughout the match. Young expressed his worries about the absence of Dawson Baker, who suffered a lower-body injury in the previous game against Miami. Baker was seen in a wheelchair during Friday’s event, raising questions about his availability moving forward.
Young acknowledged the challenges ahead, stating, “I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t worried about it. But guys will step up.” He expressed confidence in his bench players, including Tyler Mrus and Dom Diomande, who have shown potential in practice.
With this victory, BYU improves to 6-1 for the season, having faced tough competition including teams like Villanova, Wisconsin, and UConn. Young noted the importance of these challenging games, stating, “To be able to play against these types of teams early in the season… we have a lot of reference points that we can rely on as the season wears on.”
As the Cougars continue their nonconference schedule, their resilience in the second half will be a crucial aspect to monitor. The team’s ability to adapt and perform under pressure will be key as they prepare for upcoming challenges in both conference play and potential postseason matches.
