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NCAA Tournament results: Wisconsin's incredible rally comes up short vs. BYU

Down double digits, Badgers rally to give themselves a shot before falling in second round of NCAA Tournament
Dana Becker|
John Tonje and Wisconsin take on BYU in the second round of the NCAA Tournament Saturday night.
John Tonje and Wisconsin take on BYU in the second round of the NCAA Tournament Saturday night. | Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

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Wisconsin BadgersBYU Cougars

The Wisconsin men seek a spot in the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2017 when they face BYU on Saturday night. 

The second round contest in the NCAA Tournament begins at 6:45 p.m. CST and airs on CBS from Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. 

Wisconsin (27-9) reached the 27-win mark for the first time since 2016-17, the first under head coach Greg Gard after he replaced Bo Ryan as interim coach the season before. The win over Montana in the opening round marked the first NCAA Tournament victory for the Badgers since 2021-22.

John Tonje leads the team at over 19 points per game with five rebounds, as Wisconsin averages almost 80 per game. 

BYU (25-9), members of the Big 12 Conference, knocked off VCU to advance. The Cougars are led by Richie Saunders, who averages almost 16, and Egor Demin, who adds 10.5

The Cougars last reached the Sweet 16 in 2011, as this marked their first tourney victory since that season. The 25 wins are the most since 2015-16 for the program.

Check out our live updates and in-game analysis of Wisconsin vs. BYU in the NCAA Tournament below:

(Refresh for the latest updates)

Final Stats, Analysis

What an incredible run it was for Wisconsin in the second half, as the Badgers erased a double-digit lead to give themselves a chance to tie or win it. John Tonje, who scored the final six for Wisconsin, finished with a game-high 37 points, going 14 of 16 from the free throw line.

John Blackwell with 21 and six rebounds while Max Klesmit knocked down four 3-pointers and tallied 12 points. It was a tough start, and ultimately, that kept Wisconsin from advancing to the Sweet 16.

For BYU, they were led by Richie Saunders’ 25 points, as he added seven rebounds and sank three 3-pointers. Three other starters hit double figures including Egor Demin, who had 11 points with eight assists and eight rebounds.

Live Second Half Updates

Final score: BYU 91, Wisconsin 89

The Badgers gave it to John Tonje and BYU opted to play him 1-on-1, with the Cougars getting the better of the battle and the win with it. BYU to the Sweet 16 as Tonje’s shot comes up short and they run out the clock. Season over for Wisconsin, and what a ride it was.

Oh the cinema of March! Carter Gilmore defends and Carter Gilmore falls on the loose ball, as Wisconsin will have it out of the timeout with a chance to tie or win it. BYU leads 91-89 with 13 seconds left.

Tonje doing it all! Six consecutive points from Mr. Badger and we are in for a treat, as Wisconsin has cut it to 91-89 with 39 seconds left. BYU has the ball coming out of a timeout.

John Tonje do your thing! The All-American with a deep 3-pointer, cutting the deficit down to 91-86 with just 71 seconds remaining in what has been a fun game. Tonje with a game-high 34 points.

BYU 89, Wisconsin 83, 1:27 left in half: Carter Gilmore with an old-fashioned 3-point play and the Badgers are within six with 1:27 left in the season. 

Dawson Baker tossed! BYU loses a player, as Dawson Baker is called for a Flagrant-2. John Tonje knocks down both free throws, but just as momentum seems to be shifting, Egor Demin with a back-breaking 3-pointer. Cougars lead, 89-78, with 2:11 to play.

BYU 86, Wisconsin 76, 3:11 left in half: The Badgers need a miracle, as the Cougars are just a scoring machine. Even when Wisconsin gets out in transition - which they have struggled to do - the BYU defense rises up. 

BYU 78, Wisconsin 68, 7:23 left in half: John Tonje is doing everything he can to keep the Badgers in this one, but a lack of effort on the defensive side might prove to be too much. The Cougars are not only knocking everything down, when they don’t make it, they are crashing the boards and getting second shots. 

BYU 63, Wisconsin 54, 11:47 left in half: The Badgers fought to get back in this one, and almost in an instant, the Cougars have a nine-point cushion again. Wisconsin has yet to hold the lead tonight, but have improved to 43 percent shooting from the field with eight made 3-pointers. They are still down on the glass, 30-22, as BYU has a plus-eight edge on points in the paint.

Tonje for three! Fouled attempting a 3-pointer, John Tonje knocks down all three free throws and Wisconsin trails 58-54 with under 13 to go. He is up to 20 points to lead the Badgers.

Some touchy fouls! Wisconsin hit with back-to-back fouls as it appeared like the BYU players initiated contact on both. Regardless, they were called and three Badger players have three fouls each as the Cougars lead 58-51 with 13 to play.

Technical: The Wisconsin coaching staff is hit with a technical after coming out of the box. BYU’s Richie Saunders hits both free throws and adds a layup, capping a quick 4-0 run to push the lead back up to eight.

Here come the Badgers! A 12-5 run to start the half has Wisconsin within four and the momentum back on the side of Bucky. Max Klesmit with a big 3-pointer to cap a 8-0 run and a 10-3 spurt.

Halftime Stats, Analysis

A mini-run by Wisconsin was answered by a late 3-pointer from BYU to push the lead back up to double digits. The Cougars have knocked down six 3-pointers and hold a 26-14 edge on the glass, including nine offensive rebounds. 

Richie Saunders with 12 points and five rebounds while Egor Demin has eight with four assists. BYU with 11 assists on 17 field goals while going 7-for-7 from the free throw line.

Wisconsin is led by John Tonje, who has 11 points, and Steven Crowl and John Blackwell, who each have 10. They are shooting just 39 percent from the field and 29 percent from the 3-point line while missing four free throws.

Live First Half Updates

Halftime score: BYU 47, Wisconsin 36

Look at the score! There was a brief moment where the scoreboard was gone on the bottom of the screen, and here is why. Somebody hit an extra number, much to the appreciation of Badger faithful.

Acrobatic Tonje! All year, the way John Tonje finishes at the bucket is incredible, and he has done it again, capping a quick 5-0 run with a sweet bucket at the basket. Wisconsin down 44-36 with 66 seconds before the half.

Technical foul! Mawot Mag of BYU is called for a technical foul after a very controversial foul call on Dallin Hall. John Tonje sinks the free throw and the Badgers have a chance to gain some momentum before the half as they trail 44-32 with 1:47 to go.

BYU 38, Wisconsin 29, 3:32 left in half: It will be Badger ball out of the timeout after a foul on the Cougars. Wisconsin has grabbed two offensive rebounds on this possession.

BYU 38, Wisconsin 24, 5:07 left in half: Just as the Badgers look to be gaining momentum, here comes Egor Demin and Richie Saunders with five straight to push the advantage back up to 14.

Finally some buckets! Wisconsin gets back-to-back 3-pointers from Steven Crowl and Max Klesmit, with John Blackwell adding a bucket, as they have cut the deficit down to 33-24.

Ice-cold Badgers: Wisconsin is in the midst of a scoring drought from the field spanning five-plus minutes. And BYU is making them pay, knocking down big shots all around. With just over seven to play before half, the Cougars lead, 27-16.

Words from Greg Gard: Wisconsin’s head coach is just asking his team to “settle in” during an interview on CBS’ broadcast during a timeout. That’s exactly what they need to do.

BYU 23, Wisconsin 14, 10:50 left in half: The Badgers need to find some rhythm to their game on the offensive end. They are struggling to get any penetration towards the rim, forcing contested shots. On the defensive side, BYU is doing whatever it wants, shooting 50 percent from the field.

BYU 14, Wisconsin 8, 15:45 left in half: The Cougars have gone 5 of 8 from the field early, as both Richie Saunders and Egor Demin have five points. The Badgers, with two made 3-pointers, have gotten off just four field goals with Steven Crowl scoring five.

Quick start for Cougars: BYU comes out firing, going up 7-2 early before a 3-pointer by Steven Crowl cuts into the deficit. The Cougars can score, and they almost always have five shooters on the court who can drain it from anywhere.

Running behind schedule: As can happen in the NCAA Tournament, we are about 45 minutes behind the planned tip in this one, as the game should start at 7:27 p.m. CST.

Live Pregame Updates

Wisconsin heads into the game a 1.5-point favorite over BYU. The two have met just once prior, with the Badgers winning in 2011, 73-56.

Published | Modified
Dana Becker
DANA BECKER

Dana Becker has been a sports writer in Iowa since 2000, writing for The Fort Dodge Messenger, Mason City Globe-Gazette, Cedar Rapids Gazette and others. Dana resides in north-central Iowa.

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