The No. 11 ranked BYU Cougars men’s basketball team is getting set for what will be their toughest test of the season so far on Saturday at 6:00 p.m. when they travel to Lubbock, Texas, to take on the No. 15 ranked Texas Tech University Red Raiders. 

Both teams have been hot lately, with Texas Tech victorious in their last six matchups, while BYU is currently riding a 13-game winning streak.  

Cougar Head Coach Kevin Young and his squad are coming off an emotion-filled 76-70 come-from-behind victory over the Texas Christian University Horned Frogs Wednesday night at the Marriott Center in Provo.  

The Cougars were led Wednesday by superstar Freshman AJ Dybantsa as he poured in a game-high 25 points, with 17 of those coming in the second half.  

“He’s obviously a great player,” Young said, speaking about Dybantsa. “We needed him to step up tonight, and he did.” 

Texas Tech Head Coach Grant McCasland and his boys won their last game 88-74 at home over a scrappy University of Utah Utes squad.  

The Red Raiders were led by the veteran duo of Junior JT Toppin with 31 points and Sophomore Christian Anderson, who added 26 points of his own. Their 57 combined points further cemented them as one of the nation’s most lethal pairs.  

Saturday’s matchup will feature some of the highest star power college basketball has seen this year, as the Anderson-Toppin tandem will face off against BYU’s big three of Dybantsa, transfer Sophomore Robert Wright III, and Senior Richie Saunders.  

The Cougars’ scoring attack averages 87.5 points per game, and Dybantsa, Wright, and Saunders account for nearly 60 of those points.  

Which winning streak will come to an end Saturday night? Only time will tell, but it should be a great litmus test for two teams with aspirations of playing in Indianapolis in early April.  

For BYU, its success will likely depend on Saunders and Senior big man Keba Keita avoiding foul trouble and having all five guys on the floor crashing the glass.  

“Not every night is going to be your night on the offensive end,” said Young. “That’s where you have got to find ways to win a ball game, and our guys do that.” 

Keita will be trusted with stopping Toppin, who powers this high-octane Red Raiders offense. His availability will be key as the Cougars are thin on the back end.  

For Texas Tech, their key to victory is very simple: turnovers. The Red Raiders need to force BYU’s offense into bad decisions and prevent turnovers, which allow the Cougars to get out and run.  

Extra possessions are huge in big games such as Saturday, so rebounds and turnovers must be focal points for these coaching staff in preparation.  

Saturday’s contest tips off at 6:00 p.m. and will be broadcast live on ESPN.