PROVO, Utah (Interstat) — A surging BYU looks to continue its strong start when it hosts UC Riverside in a nonconference men’s basketball game Saturday at the Marriott Center. The Cougars (7-1) have won four straight, including a 67-64 victory over then-Clemson last Tuesday. Freshman standout AJ Dybantsa led the way with 28 points and six assists, his third 20-point performance in the last five games. The 6-foot-8 forward is averaging 20.1 points per game and has been a catalyst for an offense averaging 78.4 points. BYU’s only loss came in an 86-84 nail-biter at then-Connecticut on Nov. 15. Since then, the Cougars have posted double-digit wins over Wisconsin, Miami (Fla.) and California Baptist. UC Riverside (5-5) arrives after an 88-84 road win at Cal Poly on Dec. 6, snapping a two-game skid. The Highlanders are led by guard Marqui Worthy, who scored 24 points in that victory and is coming off a 26-point effort in a loss to UC Irvine on Dec. 4. Worthy averages 17.5 points and 3.6 assists per game. Andrew Henderson, who scored a season-high 28 points against Cal Poly, provides additional backcourt scoring for a Highlanders squad averaging 73.7 points but allowing 75.9 per contest. That defense will be tested by a BYU team shooting 48.6% from the field and 37.8% from 3-point range. The Cougars hold a 4-0 all-time series advantage, with the last meeting an 87-76 BYU win in Provo on Dec. 9, 2020. This game begins a busy stretch for both teams. BYU will host Pacific on Tuesday before a Dec. 19 matchup with Abilene Christian. UC Riverside travels to face Saint Thomas (Minn.) on Dec. 20 before a Dec. 23 game at UCLA. Saturday’s tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. MST.