BYU guard Dallin Hall had a feeling that freshman point guard Alex Demin was going to have a big game. During team dinner Wednesday night, Hall told Demin he was about to have his finest hour as a Cougar. And the 19-year-old freshman delivered, scoring 15 points on 6 of 11 shooting in BYU’s 80-71 win over VCU in the NCAA Tournament first-round game.
Demin made all three of his 3-pointers in the first half, helping BYU get out to a 39-28 lead at the break. He also had two assists and four turnovers in 31 minutes, showing that while he has room for improvement, he can make an impact when it matters most.
Hall praised Demin’s leadership skills, saying he is a “leader, anxious learner, and great teammate.” Hall also noted that Demin’s play has a way of instilling confidence in his teammates. When asked about his performance, Demin said that what matters most to him is the team’s success, not individual achievements.
The win marked BYU’s first tournament victory since 2019 and sets them up for a potential Sweet 16 run. With Demin on board, the Cougars are looking strong, and fans are excited to see what the future holds for this young talent.
Source: https://www.deseret.com/sports/2025/03/20/byu-basketball-ncaa-tournament-big-dance-vcu-cougars-rams-winner