AJ Dybantsa delivered a record-setting performance in his Big 12 tournament debut, scoring a conference freshman-record 40 points as the No. 10-seeded Cougars rolled past No. 15 seed Kansas State, 105-91, in the first round.
Dybantsa’s scoring outburst powered an offense that consistently found answers throughout the night, helping the Cougars pull away and secure their opening-round win. The 105 points marked a high-output showing in a tournament setting, with Dybantsa at the center of nearly every decisive stretch.
Big night, bigger mark
The 40-point effort established a new Big 12 freshman record, underscoring the impact Dybantsa had in a game where the Cougars needed a difference-maker to separate from the Wildcats. Kansas State, seeded 15th, couldn’t contain the freshman as the Cougars’ attack kept the pressure on from start to finish.
With the victory, the Cougars move on from the first round of the conference tournament after turning a high-scoring matchup into a comfortable win behind Dybantsa’s historic night.