DENVER – The BYU Cougars are heading to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2011 after a hard-fought 91-89 victory over Wisconsin in the NCAA Tournament.
Richie Saunders led the charge with 25 points, while Trevin Knell contributed 14 to help BYU maintain control for most of the game.
Cougars Hold Off Late Wisconsin Rally
BYU built a double-digit lead in the second half, at one point going up by 14 points. However, Wisconsin fought back in the final minutes, trimming the deficit to just two points.
With time winding down, John Tonje—who had a game-high 37 points for Wisconsin—had a chance to tie the game, but Mawot Mag’s strong defense forced Tonje into a tough shot that missed.
“We couldn’t stop them in the second half, but we knew we just needed one big defensive stop,” BYU coach Kevin Young said.
Strong Performances Across the Board
BYU saw contributions from multiple players, including Egor Demin, who nearly recorded a triple-double with 11 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists. Keba Keita added 10 points and six rebounds, while Dawson Baker and Trey Stewart provided key minutes off the bench.
The Cougars were on fire from beyond the arc, hitting 12 three-pointers and shooting 49.2% from the field.
Looking Ahead
With the win, 6th-seeded BYU (26-9) moves on to the Sweet 16, where they will face the winner of #2 Alabama vs. #7 Saint Mary’s at the Prudential Center in New Jersey on Thursday.
This marks the deepest NCAA Tournament run for BYU since the Jimmer Fredette era, with the former BYU star in attendance cheering on the team.
“You watched the game and just wondered, ‘How did it get so close at the end?’” Fredette said. “But that’s the kind of fight this team has.”
BYU last reached the Elite 8 in 1981, led by Danny Ainge, and now they’ll look to take another step closer to that milestone .
