Kansas survives BYU rally after Darryn Peterson exits despite dominant first half
TOI GLOBAL DESK | TOI GLOBAL | Feb 03, 2026, 07:16 IST
Kansas survives BYU rally after Darryn Peterson exits despite dominant first half
Kansas built a big halftime lead behind Darryn Peterson’s 18-point first half and held off a late BYU rally for a ranked win. Peterson left with cramps midway through the second half, forcing the Jayhawks to protect the cushion without him. The victory boosts Kansas’ resume, but Peterson’s health remains a growing concern.
No. 14 Kansas built a huge first-half lead and secured a 90-82 win over No. 13 BYU on Saturday night in Lawrence after missing its star freshman.
The first half was completely taken by Darryn Peterson, who scored 18 points as the Jayhawks raced to a 53-33 lead at halftime. He shot 6 of 7 from the field, hit three shots from deep, and did a powerful dunk over two BYU defenders. Kansas also performed well from the three-point line, going 9 of 12 before the break, with Bryson Tiller and Tre White not missing a single three-point attempt.
Then the game changed after Peterson left during the second half with 16:46 remaining on the clock and never returned. He was later seen on the bench with wraps on his thighs while Kansas was busy trying to protect its lead without him. Head coach Bill Self later explained the situation. “He was dealing with cramps,” Self said after the game.
Without Peterson on the floor, BYU slowly chipped away at the deficit. Richie Saunders led the Cougars, scoring 33 points while shooting six three-pointers. AJ Dybantsa, who had a quiet start, finished with 17 points as BYU cut the lead to just four points with 1:27 left, putting real pressure on Kansas.
Kansas responded at the right time, pushing the lead back to six and closing the door before the Cougars could get any closer.
The first half shooting from Kansas made the difference. The Jayhawks came into the game shooting under 36 percent from three for the season, but their early accuracy gave them a cushion that proved just enough to survive the late push.
Peterson’s performance again raised the question about his draft stock. He and Dybantsa are widely seen as top prospects for the 2026 NBA Draft, and Peterson looked every bit like a potential No. 1 pick when he was on the court. But this was only his 11th game of the season. He has missed time earlier with hamstring and ankle problems and has played limited games in recent months.
Kansas improved its resume with another ranked win, but the bigger concern moving forward is whether Peterson can stay healthy as the season heads toward March.