What Clemson coach Brad Brownell said after losing to BYU

NEW YORK CITY — At one point in the second half against BYU on Tuesday, Clemson held a 98.5% win probability, according to ESPN.

But the then-1.5% chance for a BYU win prevailed.

The Tigers squandered a 22-point lead to lose 67-64 to the Cougars in the Jimmy V Classic at Madison Square Garden, with Rob Wright III beating the buzzer for a game-winning 3-pointer to give BYU its most memorable victory of the season.

“I’m proud of our guys, I thought our guys fought like crazy,” Clemson head coach Brad Brownell told reporters after the game. “The first 20 minutes, I thought we played our best basketball of the season.

“... We played our heart out, and guys made some plays down the stretch to gave us a chance to give us a chance to go to overtime. To their credit, (BYU) made a really tough shot to beat us.”

Clemson went into halftime with a 43-22 advantage, having ended the half on a 21-0 run.

But BYU controlled the latter frame to the tune of a 45-21 mark, with the Cougars forcing more Tigers turnovers (eight) than Clemson had made field goals (seven).

“I thought we played outstanding the first 20 minutes and had them frustrated. Second half, they flipped the script,” Brownell said."

“... We didn’t do a good enough job as a coaching staff helping our players on the offensive end. In the game in the second half, I thought we got a little stagnant. Their little zone press was bothersome and should not have been. I thought we got just a little casual and slowed down more than it should have. But credit to them.”

Clemson tied the game with about five seconds remaining, only for BYU to get the ball across half court, call timeout with 1.3 seconds left on the clock and scheme up the play to Wright, resulting in a buzzer beater that will live on in Cougars lore for decades.

“It’s a hard situation. It’s hard to keep teams from getting a shot,” Brownell said. “It was probably a little bit of a good look, but when you watch it on film, we actually have two guys kind of right there, and you’re doing everything but fouling.

“Again, it’s hard. When you have a great player like (AJ) Dybantsa, if we guard him one-on-one, they’re just going to lob it to him, and now you’re just hoping he misses.

“Unfortunately, that’s why BYU is really good. They’ve got a lot of really good players, and Wright made it.”

Aside from Wright’s heroics, AJ Dybantsa shook off a slow start to post a career-high 28 points, with 22 coming in the second half to outscore Clemson’s entire team after halftime.

AJ Dybantsa just went OFF at Madison Square Garden 🔥

28 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 assists and the win against Clemson pic.twitter.com/SdXJU00lc9

— B/R Hoops (@brhoops) December 10, 2025

“I think he makes hard shots, takes hard shots. We did not want to foul him, that’s point number one. One of the big keys in the first half was they only shot three free throws. We were guarding (Dybantsa) without fouling. I think we had him a little frustrated. We were playing with tremendous energy, and obviously we were playing after makes, so our defense is always set,” Brownell said.

“In the second half we were not always set, so they’re getting momentum. Then (Dybantsa)’s a great player, so he’s going to eventually find some rhythm, and he made some big plays. I mean, it’s hard. (Richie) Saunders, we guarded great tonight, and I know he was 0 for 7 from three. He probably won’t do that again this year. That’s why these guys are so good, it’s pick your poison. There’s so many of them.”

With the loss, Clemson now falls to 7-3 on the season, with the Tigers’ two most recent setbacks having been heartbreakers against top-15 teams in Alabama and BYU.

“My guys keep playing, but we have to play better basketball against elite teams. That’s what we’ve played this week. We’ve played Alabama and BYU, two top 15 teams in the country, and we just haven’t quite played well enough for 40 minutes to beat them,” Brownell said.

“So we’ve got to get back to the drawing board, improve on a couple things. But in terms of competitive fight and spirit, I’m really proud of my team.”