In what will surely be remembered as the upset of the week in the Big 12, the Oklahoma State Cowboys defended their home court with a thrilling 91-85 victory over #16 BYU. The story of the night was Anthony Roy, who caught fire early and never cooled down, racking up 30 points in a dazzling display of shot-making. The Cowboys, who have hovered around the .500 mark this season, looked like a completely different team, feeding off the energy of a raucous Gallagher-Iba Arena crowd to topple the heavily favored Cougars.

BYU entered the game riding high, led by the presumptive top pick in the upcoming NBA draft, AJ Dybantsa. To his credit, Dybantsa was spectacular, living up to his billing with 36 points of his own. He showcased a versatile offensive repertoire, scoring from all three levels and nearly single-handedly keeping BYU in the game during the closing minutes. However, the Cowboys' collective effort and Roy’s lights-out shooting eventually proved too much for the visitors to overcome. Oklahoma State shot a season-high 54% from the floor and connected on 12 three-pointers.

The game was a back-and-forth affair with 14 lead changes. Oklahoma State’s Vyctorius Miller delivered the exclamation point of the night, a thunderous transition dunk in the final minute that sealed the win and sent the fans into a frenzy. Defensively, the Cowboys focused on making life difficult for BYU’s supporting cast, holding the rest of the Cougars to just 38% shooting while letting Dybantsa get his. This tactical gamble by coach Steve Lutz paid off, as BYU’s secondary scorers struggled to find their rhythm in the hostile environment.

Statistically, the Cowboys dominated the points in the paint (40-28) and benefited from a significant advantage at the free-throw line. Brandon Garrison was a force on the interior, recording a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds. For BYU, the loss is a setback in their quest for a top-four seed in the conference tournament. Despite Dybantsa’s heroics, the Cougars were plagued by 14 turnovers and a lack of defensive communication on the perimeter, which allowed Roy to get clean looks throughout the night.

This victory could serve as a turning point for Oklahoma State as they look to build momentum heading into March. For BYU, it serves as a reminder of the nightly gauntlet that is the Big 12. Even with a generational talent like AJ Dybantsa, road wins are never guaranteed. The Cowboys move to 14-10 on the year, while BYU drops to 18-6, setting up a fascinating scramble for position in the middle of the conference standings.