The No. 6 seed BYU Cougars have secured their first Sweet 16 appearance in 14 years after defeating the No. 3 seed Wisconsin Badgers 91-89 in a thrilling game. The win marked a significant comeback by the Cougars, who had been trailing by as many as eight points with just minutes left on the clock.
Senior Richie Saunders led the team with 25 points, while forward Mawot Mag and guard Egor Demin also made significant contributions to the victory. BYU’s first-year head coach Kevin Young was visibly ecstatic throughout the game, high-fiving fans and teammates in celebration of his team’s success.
The turning point in the game came when John Tonje’s fadeaway jumper missed at the buzzer, sealing the win for the Cougars. “It felt like a home game” Young said, describing the electric atmosphere in the arena.
BYU’s victory was marked by six technical free throws and a late rally by Wisconsin, but ultimately, the team’s determination and teamwork were enough to secure their place in the Sweet 16. With this win, BYU is now one step closer to competing for the national championship.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6224167/2025/03/23/byu-wisconsin-score-ejection-ncaa-tournament