PROVO, Utah (Interstat) — In a game defined by a singular, spectacular performance, AJ Dybantsa scored 35 points to lead BYU to an 85-67 victory over Abilene Christian on Friday night at a sold-out Marriott Center.

The freshman phenom from Brockton, Massachusetts, was the engine for the Cougars, who improved to 10-1. He played 36 minutes, adding four assists and a block while shooting 10 of 14 from the free-throw line. His outing continued a dominant stretch, coming on the heels of 28, 26 and 23-point performances in his last three games.

Abilene Christian, which fell to 7-5, hung tough early behind the scoring of guard Chilaydrien Newton, who finished with a team-high 23 points. The Wildcats trailed just 43-36 at halftime after a back-and-forth opening period that saw seven lead changes.

The most important sequence of the game, however, unfolded early in the second half and effectively snuffed out any hope of an upset. Leading 45-39, BYU ignited a decisive 17-3 run over a five-minute span to seize full control. Dybantsa was at the center of the surge, scoring nine points during the stretch, including a steal and breakaway dunk that forced an Abilene Christian timeout with the Cougars ahead 62-42 at the 14:51 mark.

The Wildcats never recovered. BYU’s lead ballooned to as many as 24 points as the Cougars’ defense tightened, forcing 18 Abilene Christian turnovers, which they converted into 23 points.

While Dybantsa starred, he received crucial support from guard Richie Saunders, who added 21 points, three assists and three steals. Robert Wright chipped in 10 points for BYU. The Cougars’ interior defense was also a factor, recording 10 blocks, led by three each from Khadim Mboup and Mihailo Boskovic.

For Abilene Christian, Bradyn Hubbard scored 12 points and Joseph Venzant added nine. The Wildcats shot just 38% from the field for the game and were outrebounded 42-31.

The announced crowd of 17,958 watched BYU win its fourth consecutive game since its only loss of the season to Connecticut last month. The Cougars now turn their attention to a Monday night home game against Eastern Washington.

Abilene Christian, which has lost two straight after a defeat at Arizona earlier in the week, will travel to face Texas Southern on Monday.

The game’s final score landed under the projected total, and BYU covered the pregame spread as a heavy favorite, a result largely orchestrated by the unstoppable play of its freshman standout, AJ Dybantsa.