Honor Huff Leads Mountaineers Past No. 19 BYU 79-71 in the Big 12

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia delivered a critical late season result Saturday night, defeating No. 19 BYU 79-71 to halt a three game skid and reshape the latest Big 12 timeline.

The Mountaineers improved to 17-12 overall and 8-8 in conference play, while BYU fell to 20-9 and 8-8 after its second consecutive loss and eighth defeat in 12 games. The outcome tightens the middle tier of the Big 12 standings as teams jockey for conference tournament seeding.

Honor Huff led West Virginia with 19 points, and Brenen Lorient added 18 in a balanced offensive effort. DJ Thomas scored 13, while Jasper Floyd and Chance Moore each contributed 11. The Mountaineers led for the entire second half and closed the game efficiently at the free throw line, converting 5 of 6 attempts in the final 26 seconds.

BYU was paced by Robert Wright III with 23 points and freshman AJ Dybantsa with 20. Dybantsa, widely projected as a potential top selection in the 2026 NBA draft, was limited to four points in the first half before responding with 16 after the break. He shot 6 for 11 in the second half and scored 11 points over a five minute stretch that briefly brought the Cougars within striking distance.

West Virginia’s defensive pressure defined the early momentum. The Mountaineers forced nine first half turnovers and used a 20-5 run, highlighted by 11 points from Moore, to build a 40-26 halftime lead. BYU struggled on the glass during key second half possessions and was unable to fully erase the deficit.

The Cougars cut the margin to 74-71 with 1:11 remaining after Keba Keita recorded a steal and converted a layup. BYU then had two opportunities to tie following defensive stops but committed turnovers on consecutive possessions. West Virginia capitalized at the line to secure the win.

From an impact standpoint, the victory gives West Virginia a needed Quad 1 caliber result and improves the program to 2-4 against Associated Press Top 25 opponents this season. With the NCAA Tournament selection process approaching, each conference win carries measurable weight in resume evaluation.

For BYU, the latest timeline raises questions about late season consistency. After a strong start in Big 12 play, the Cougars have struggled to close games and defend without fouling, key areas that will influence their postseason outlook.

Next steps: BYU travels to Cincinnati on Tuesday night seeking to stabilize its conference standing. West Virginia heads to Kansas State on Tuesday, with both teams aiming to finish the regular season above .500 in Big 12 competition.

As the conference race tightens, this result adds another layer of complexity to tournament projections and sets up a pivotal final week across the league.