No. 8 BYU leans on defense to outlast Villanova in men’s basketball season opener

If you were told before tipoff that BYU would shoot under 40% from the field and under 30% from three against a quality program like Villanova, you’d probably chalk that up as an early-season loss.

But thanks to a gritty, team-wide defensive effort, the Cougars clawed their way to a 71–66 victory to open the 2025 campaign on the right note.

The offense never found much rhythm. Richie Saunders and Rob Wright combined to go just 9-of-29 from the field, and ball movement at times looked a bit more stagnant than BYU fans are used to seeing under coach Kevin Young.

Wright and A.J. Dybantsa, both more than comfortable with the ball in their hands, fell into the trap of trying to play hero ball at times, settling for difficult, contested one-on-one shots instead of trusting the offense to create better looks.

That said, the Cougars made their mark on the other end of the floor.

Keba Keita was a force in the paint, blocking three shots and altering several more.

“He’s a presence, a force, and an anchor,” Coach Young said after the game — and it showed.

BYU was delivered an early gut check when Villanova briefly took a 56–55 lead with eight minutes to play — their first lead of the night.

But the Cougars’ defense responded in a big way, holding the Wildcats to just two made field goals over the final six minutes of the game.

That lockdown stretch proved to be the difference as BYU closed strong behind a steady finish from Dybantsa to secure the five-point victory.

There’s no question Young will be back to the drawing board looking to smooth out the offense, but this opener offers plenty to build on.

BYU held Villanova to just 36% shooting from the field and 29% from beyond the arc. Sure, this Villanova team is in a rebuild under new head coach Kevin Willard, with 10 new players still finding their footing. But make no mistake — BYU faced pressure late from a formidable Big East opponent, and they responded like a seasoned group.