LAS VEGAS – BYU basketball opens the 2025-26 season with a 71-66 win over the Villanova Wildcats.

The season-opener at T-Mobile Arena was a pro-BYU crowd, as Villanova coach Kevin Willard said, it was a road game for the Wildcats from the Big East.

Here’s a recap of the key moments from BYU’s win to start the season at 1-0.

First Half

15:57 – The first points of the season were from Keba Keita on a slam dunk. Moments later, AJ Dybantsa scored his first points as a BYU Cougar on a reverse layup.

BYU newcomer guard Rob Wright showed big-time moves around the basket in the opening minutes. Xavion Staton, the Las Vegas native, was the first player off the bench. BYU 8, Villanova 8.

12:05 – AJ Dybantsa had an impressive sequence of plays. First, he knocked down a tough bucket in th

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