BYU Triumphs Over Dayton in ESPN Events Invitational Magic Bracket
BYU secured a victory over Dayton in the Magic bracket of the ESPN Events Invitational with a final score of 83-79. Richie Saunders led the Cougars with 29 points, while Robert Wright III contributed 23 points to the win. Saunders showcased his shooting skills by making 6 of 10 three-pointers and all five of his free throws. Wright also had a strong performance, shooting 9 of 16 from the field and adding six assists and two steals. AJ Dybantsa chipped in with 18 points for BYU.
Dayton's Javon Bennett led his team with 22 points, including six three-pointers. Bryce Heard came off the bench to score 16 points, while Amael L'Etang and De'Shayne Montgomery added 13 and 11 points, respectively. Bennett's five three-pointers in the first half helped Dayton take a 36-30 lead at halftime.
In the second half, BYU made a strong comeback with a 15-0 run led by Saunders, Dybantsa, and Wright. Despite Dayton's efforts to stay in the game, BYU maintained the lead until the final minutes. Saunders' four-point play and solid free-throw shooting secured the victory for the Cougars.
BYU shot 51.8% from the field and 45.5% from beyond the arc, while Dayton shot 46.8% overall and 45.5% from three-point range. The Cougars will face California Baptist next, while Dayton will take on East Tennessee State in their upcoming games.