BYU reaches Semifinal for the first time in Big 12 Tournament after beating Iowa State.
The Cougars defeated the 5-seeded Iowa State Cyclones in the Big 12 Tournament Quarterfinals.
The BYU Cougars have found their stride in the second half of the season, going from a team unsure of making the NCAA Tournament to now securing a 4-seed in the Big 12 Tournament, which will likely result in a favorable March Madness seed.
After receiving a double-bye in the first two rounds of the Big 12 Tournament, BYU faced the Iowa State Cyclones on the distinctive Big 12 court. Iowa State started the season strong but struggled in conference play, ultimately earning a 5-seed in the tournament.
Given the 4-seed versus 5-seed matchup, a close game was anticipated, and that’s exactly what transpired. The Cougars trailed by four at halftime, 49-53, but outscored Iowa State 47-39 in the second half, taking control and securing the win. Led by star forward Richie Saunders, BYU’s top scorer of the season, the Cougars defeated Iowa State 96-92, advancing to the Big 12 Tournament semifinals for the first time in school history.
In only their second season in the Big 12, BYU is making an impact not just in basketball but across various sports this year. However, on the basketball court, BYU has become a force no one expected, continuing their surprising success this season. After losing head coach Mark Pope to Kentucky in the offseason, BYU was left as an unpredictable team.
They certainly made a statement today with their win over the tough Iowa State team. Saunders led the charge with 23 points and five assists, topping the team in both categories. The Cougars also received strong contributions from their bench, with Mihailo Boskovic and Fousseyni Traore each scoring in double figures, with 10 and 15 points, respectively.
The scoring was well-balanced across the team, as every player who took the court scored against Iowa State. It was a tight game in the final minutes, but BYU hit key shots to maintain a lead, ultimately securing the win with crucial free throws.
BYU will rest for the day but will be keeping an eye on the 16-seed Colorado versus 1-seed Houston game to determine their opponent in tomorrow’s semifinal.