AJ Dybantsa scored 21 points in his college basketball debut -- including 13 in the second half -- to lead No. 8 BYU to a 71-66 victory over Villanova in Las Vegas on Monday night in the teams' season opener.

Richie Saunders finished with 15 points and seven rebounds and Robert Wright III added 14 points for the Cougars. BYU scored 17 points off 11 turnovers and outscored the Wildcats 40-24 in the paint.

Bryce Lindsay led the Wildcats with 22 points and Duke Brennan added 15 rebounds. Villanova outscored BYU 31-10 in second-chance points but managed just two baskets over the final six minutes.

Villanova trailed by as many as 14 in the second half before rallying. Lindsay fueled the rally with five baskets over a nine-minute stretch. He tied it on a 3-pointer and then gave the Wildcats t

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