BYU and Iowa State played another instant classic Thursday afternoon in the quarterfinals of the Big 12 Tournament at the T-Mobile Center.
And once again, the 17th ranked Cougars walked out with another thrilling victory as BYU pushed their winning streak to nine games after the 96-92 win over No. 12 Iowa State. With the victory, the Cougars will now play in the Big 12 semifinals against the winner of the Colorado-Houston game.
BYU’s Richie Saunders scored a team-high 23 points, including hitting a crucial 3-pointer with less than a minute to go to give the Cougars the win.
Fousseyni Traore had 15 points and Mihailo Boskovic added 10 points as BYU’s bench scored a whopping 41 points. Starter Trevin Knell was the only other start to reach double figures as the senior had 14 points, including going 4-for-4 from 3-point range.
For the game, BYU went 18-of-36 from beyond the arc to set a tournament record for most 3-pointers made in the game. The Cougars also set another Big 12 tournament record with 8 different players making at least one attempt.
Iowa State was also making it rain from downtown as the Cyclones shot nearly 45% from beyond the arc with 13 makes. In total, both teams combined for 31 3-pointers, which also set a Big 12 Tournament record.
Last but not least, both teams combined for a Big 12 tournament record of 188 points, and the game didn’t even go into overtime. The previous tournament record was 180 points.
Iowa State was led by Curtis Jones who had a game-high 31 points. The senior knocked down seven 3-pointers and scored 22 points in the first half alone. Milan Momcilovic had 18 points and Joahua Jefferson and Dishon Jackson each had 14 points apiece in the loss for the short-handed Cyclones, which came in having won their last four games at the Big 12 tourney, including their run to the championship a year ago.
Turnovers: BYU, which committed 29 turnovers when it beat Iowa State last week, had just 10 turnovers in the quarterfinal rematch.
Streaking: Thursday’s victory gave BYU it’s fourth straight win over an AP Top 25 team. It’s the longest streak since the Cougars did so during the 1950-51 season.
Here’s all the reactions from the game:
Survive and advance! #GoCougs #big12tournament pic.twitter.com/EhEUocDRMu
— Will Voigt (@CoachWillVoigt) March 13, 2025
That’s nine wins in a row for BYU.
Kevin Young’s Cougars just put up 96 points in a win over Iowa State.
BYU has beaten Kansas, Arizona and Iowa State twice in this stretch.
Richie Saunders has been on a tear lately. Had 23 today.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) March 13, 2025
Is this the best BYU team since the 2019-20 season?
It's starting to feel that way.
Cougars beat Iowa State to advance in Kansas City.
The buzz is officially palpable in Provo.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 13, 2025
College basketball is pretty cool, man.
— Justin Young (@JustinDYoung) March 13, 2025
How bout them COUGS!!!!! pic.twitter.com/pOghhkV0wf
— Coach JG (@jernarogilford) March 13, 2025
Unbelievable shot making on both sides.
— Joseph Durfey (@JoeDurfey) March 13, 2025
Top-3 most points given up in the Otzelberger era:
—96 (BYU, 2025)
—88 (BYU in 2OT, 2025)
—87 (BYU, 2024) https://t.co/YIf97ZsQsY— Alex Gookin (@_AlexGookin) March 13, 2025
how playing byu makes me feel: pic.twitter.com/mIRAwjr95M
— Alex Gookin (@_AlexGookin) March 13, 2025
And they get the number one player in the country next year, can we trade them to the ACC for someone.
— Pierce Brennan (@CategorieHors) March 13, 2025
Honestly I think Iowa State and byu need to play twice every year for basketball. Feel like this is a rivalry that could be very fun. Especially because both are very good programs and have A+ home environments.
Please. @brettyormark
— Cyclone_everyday (@EverydayCyclone) March 13, 2025
But any spot selling ice cream is about to make bank.
— Coug Thunder (@CougThunder) March 13, 2025
Iowa State shot like this and lost 🤯 https://t.co/e1G4AYWfWW pic.twitter.com/KQemPrOhte
— Sporty (@SportyMcSports) March 13, 2025
BYU just put together an offensive masterpiece against Iowa State!
🏀 18-36 3PM (50.0%)
🏀 12-22 2PM (54.5%)
🏀 18-21 FTM (85.7%)
🏀 24 assists pic.twitter.com/Z4J8fu1lqs
— CBB Analytics (@CBBAnalytics) March 13, 2025
The comment by the announcers saying, “BYU fans are everywhere” as the chant of BYU rang out in the background was beautiful.
Every game a home game.
Go Cougars!#BYU— Total Blue Sports (@TotalBlueSports) March 13, 2025
that was an insane game tho. cyclones will go
home, rest and make a deep run in the ncaa tournament. maybe meet up with byu again in the final four.— jayhawk lasso (@jaylassoku) March 13, 2025
Do the honors, Saunders 🗣️#Big12MBB | @Phillips66Gas pic.twitter.com/qq42lhYnc1
— Big 12 Conference (@Big12Conference) March 13, 2025
Once again, #BYU showing they are not a "one-trick pony."
BYU:
– Had 40+ bench points
– Made 18 of 21 free throws
– Assisted 24 of 30 made shots
– Had just 10 turnoversAND BYU endured one of the best individual shooting performances I've seen in a half of college hoops.
— Spencer Linton (@Spencer_Linton) March 13, 2025
Trey Stewart since saying he hates Utah with a burning passion:
– 6 points (quadrupled his career average)
– 1 assist
– 3 steals (6x his career average)
– 0 turnovers🐐
— Jonny Linehan (@jlinehan9) March 13, 2025
Go Cougs 😎🤙🏽
— Te'Jon Lucas (@too_smoove23) March 13, 2025
MOVIN’ ON! pic.twitter.com/dpnJPPzg9U
— BYU Men's Basketball (@BYUMBB) March 13, 2025
Stack ’em! What a battle—our guys showed incredible fight in a high-level game. Proud of this squad! On to the next! #GoCougs https://t.co/vRxk03RyVq
— Chris Burgess (@chrisburgess34) March 13, 2025
Wow..I’m speechless GO COUGS! Coach Young already solidifying himself as a BYU legend of a head coach. So cool.
— Moroni Laulu-Pututau (@moroni_lp) March 13, 2025
if BYU meets iowa state in the final four it would cure the national debt and end world hunger.
— locked on big 12, america’s conference. (@LOBig12) March 13, 2025
🚨 BYU TAKES DOWN IOWA STATE 🚨@BYUMBB beats the Cyclones again in a THRILLER! 👀🔥 pic.twitter.com/a7qJqMYEIC
— The Field of 68 (@TheFieldOf68) March 13, 2025
Special place in my heart for anyone that beats Iowa State at anything https://t.co/NBV1vADtB6
— Eric Mika (@erc95) March 13, 2025