AJ Dybantsa powers for career-best 35 as No. 10 BYU dumps Abilene Christian

AJ Dybantsa scored a career high 35 points and collected six rebounds to lead No. 10 BYU to a 85-67 victory over Abilene Christian on Friday night.

Richie Saunders added 21 points and Rob Wright III chipped in 10 to lead the Cougars (11-1) to their eighth straight victory. BYU shot 59.5% from the field and went 29 of 40 from the free-throw line.

Cbo Newton led Abilene Christian with 23 points and Bradyn Hubbard added 12. The Wildcats (7-5) lost to their second consecutive Big 12 opponent (Arizona), even after forcing 18 turnovers.

After BYU trailed much of the first half, Dybantsa helped the Cougars take control after halftime. He scored BYU's first five baskets coming out of the locker room -- highlighted by a thunderous dunk off a steal that put the Cougars up 54-42.

Newton spurred a 10-0 run for Abilene Christian with a basket off a steal that cut the deficit to 54-52. The Wildcats drew no closer.

BYU held Abilene Christian scoreless for nearly five minutes and made five straight baskets, culminating in a layup from Wright that extended the Cougars' lead to 66-52 with 7:55 left.

Khadim Mboup made his first career start for BYU after Keba Keita sat out with an undisclosed illness. The Cougars struggled to get going offensively without Keita in the post. BYU had 12 first-half turnovers.

Abilene Christian forced six turnovers through the first eight minutes and limited BYU to just two baskets. On the other end, Cbo Newton made three baskets and Joseph Venzant drained a 3-pointer to help the Wildcats take a 17-11 lead midway through the first half.

The Cougars erased the deficit behind an 8-0 run and took their first lead at 19-17 on a corner three from Rob Wright III. Later, Dybantsa threw down a pair of dunks to fuel another 10-3 spurt that put BYU up 43-36 at halftime.