AJ Dybantsa, Robert Wright III fuel BYU comeback vs. Clemson - ESPN

NEW YORK — Kevin Young walked into BYU's locker room at halftime of Tuesday night's game and had a simple message: Clemson is playing harder than us.

The Cougars have become accustomed to second-half surges this season, but allowing a 21-0 run to end the first half and trailing by that margin at the break felt like a steeper hill to climb.

«The look in their eye got different,» Young said of his team's reaction. «I thought we were blank and a little lifeless in the first half. I challenged the guys to come out with more of a competitive spirit.»

No. 10 BYU responded with the largest second-half comeback in program history, erasing a 22-point deficit to beat Clemson, 67-64, with guard Robert Wright III hitting the winning 3-pointer at the buzzer in the Jimmy V Classic at Madison Square Garden.

While Wright's shot was the biggest of the game — and of BYU's season so far — Tuesday doubled as star freshman AJ Dybantsa's statement performance. The No. 1 recruit in the Class of 2025, Dybantsa is in the conversation for the No. 1 pick in June's NBA draft, but he had yet to have a performance along the lines of fellow freshman stars Cameron Boozer or Caleb Wilson.

Against Clemson, Dybantsa finished with 28 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists, going 9-for-17 from the field. His second half alone was eye-opening: 22 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists, and he scored or assisted on 34 of BYU's 45 points, per ESPN Research.

«They weren't doubling,» Dybantsa said. «I have trust in my one-on-one ability, and they decided not to double the second half. So I kind of just picked my spots smarter, not trying to fade as much.»

Dybantsa had shown flashes of what transpired Tuesday night, including his performances late in games against Villanova