Sweet at Last
BYU Escapes Wisconsin, Dances On
DENVER — Not even 37 points from John Tonje, a flagrant ejection, or a near meltdown in the final minute could stop BYU from dancing into the Sweet Sixteen for the first time since Jimmer Fredette wore Cougar blue.
BYU shined early in a matchup between two of the hottest offensive teams in the country, ultimately defeating Wisconsin 91–89 in a high-scoring thriller.
The Cougars led 23–14 at the midway point of the first half before stretching it to 47–36 at the break. While Wisconsin cut the deficit to a two-possession game early in the second half, they couldn’t hang on to the momentum for long.
It wasn’t until a flagrant 2 foul on BYU guard Dawson Baker with just 3:11 left that the Badgers found life. Wisconsin responded with a 13–5 run to cut the lead to 91–89 in the final minute. And with 13.5 seconds left, they had the ball.
Even with the ball in Tonje’s hands at the baseline, a stop by BYU defensive specialist Mawot Mag sealed the Cougars’ win — and the Badgers’ exit.
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“I just picked him up at the 3-point line and made him take a contested shot without fouling,” Mag said. “He is a first-team All-American for a reason. He gets calls like that. I just wanted to make it as difficult as possible, and thank God I stayed down and didn’t give (officials) the chance (to call a foul).”
Although Tonje’s final shot fell short, he left his mark on the tournament — and on Wisconsin basketball. He finished with 37 points, setting a program record for most points by a Badger in a tournament game. He also became the first player to score 30 or more in this year’s tournament.
BYU’s Richie Saunders answered with 25 points and seven rebounds on 56 percent shooting from the floor and 75 percent from deep. Three other Cougars scored in double figures, and the team outscored Wisconsin in the paint (38–28), in bench points (22–3), and led in rebounds, assists, steals, blocks, and fastbreak points — punching their ticket to the Sweet Sixteen.
For BYU, this win isn’t just another step forward — it’s a leap. The program hasn’t seen the second weekend of March Madness since 2011, and under first-year head coach Kevin Young, the Cougars are suddenly playing with the confidence of a seasoned tournament team.
“Man, what an unbelievable basketball game,” Young said. “Two hungry teams. Obviously, there was a decent amount of talk about how prolific both of our offenses were, and that second half — that was on full display for both teams.”
Now, BYU awaits a Sweet Sixteen clash with either №2 seed Alabama or Saint Mary’s. Either way, the Cougars’ versatility, depth, and ability to win under pressure make them a threat moving forward.
For Wisconsin, this loss stings. After their best season since 2017, the Badgers exit with a sense of unfinished business. Tonje’s near-legendary performance couldn’t push them through to their first Sweet Sixteen in seven years, and the game likely marks the end for many of Wisconsin’s veteran players.
“Obviously, the flurry and the heart and complete grit that we showed to make a comeback like that and have a chance in the last possession is a credit to the young men I’ve got in the locker room,” said head coach Greg Gard.
BYU bent but didn’t break. In a game defined by wild swings and emotional moments, it was one defensive stand that made the difference — and sent the Cougars dancing on.
