College Basketball Opening Day: Scores, Rankings, Highlights, and Results
Follow the action from a thrilling opening day in men's and women's college basketball. The day featured intense back-and-forth play and surprising upsets. Several games are still underway, and live stats and scores are available through the links below:
If you missed any moments, here are the highlights and final results from the day.
BYU Defeats Villanova in the Hall of Fame Series in Las Vegas
BYU secured a 71-66 victory over Villanova, rallying late to hold off the Wildcats' comeback attempt. The Cougars led 42-32 at halftime, but Villanova gradually narrowed the gap and briefly took a 56-55 lead with 8:05 remaining. BYU responded with a crucial 16-10 run to regain control and seal the win.
Standout Performances
Freshman forward AJ Dybantsa impressed in his BYU debut, scoring 21 points and grabbing 6 rebounds.
AJ Dybantsa impressed in his official BYU debut. The potential No. 1 overall pick finished with 21 points and 6 rebounds in the win.
BYU center Keba Keita delivered a dominant defensive performance, contributing 8 points, 7 rebounds (including 4 defensive rebounds), and 3 blocks.
BYU center Keba Keita had an incredible defensive showing with eight points, seven rebounds (four defensive), and three blocks.
These efforts played a key role in BYU's late-game surge and overall victory in the series.
Author's summary: The college basketball season opener highlighted BYU's resilience and standout debuts, setting an exciting tone for the year ahead.