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BYU Star Richie Saunders Tears ACL, Will Miss Rest of Season

The injury forces No. 22 BYU to reconfigure its rotation around freshman star AJ Dybantsa.

Overview

  • Saunders announced Sunday that he tore his ACL, with BYU confirming he will miss the remainder of the season and conclude his college career.
  • The senior guard was injured 45 seconds into BYU’s win over Colorado after an awkward fall on the opening possession and did not return.
  • No. 22 BYU prevailed 90-86 in overtime despite the early loss, as reserves contributed and the Cougars secured their second straight victory.
  • Saunders averaged roughly 18 points and 6 rebounds this season after earning first-team All-Big 12 honors last year and becoming a key two-way leader.
  • BYU will lean more on AJ Dybantsa and Rob Wright III, with Aleksej Kostic and Tyler Mrus among those in line for bigger roles, as a challenging stretch begins at Arizona and then Iowa State; the loss follows Dawson Baker’s season-ending ACL tear in November.