BYU Basketball On Wrong End Of Historic Shooting Night In Sweet 16
Mar 27, 2025, 7:39 PM | Updated: 11:21 pm
NEWARK, N.J. – BYU basketball played well, but they caught the No. 2 Alabama Crimson Tide on a bad night in a 113-88 Sweet 16 loss on Thursday.
The Crimson Tide set an NCAA Tournament record with 25 made threes. The previous record was set by the 1990 Loyola Marymount team, who knocked down 21 triples against Michigan. It didn’t help that BYU had an off night from downtown, shooting just six of 30 from behind the arc.
Richie Saunders led the way for BYU with an impressive stat line of 25 points, six rebounds, two assists, and four steals. Egor Demin, Keba Keita, and Trevin Knell all surpassed double digits as well.
Although an unfortunate ending, it was a season to remember for BYU basketball. In Kevin Young’s first year as head coach, he led the team to its first Sweet 16 appearance in 14 years.
Alabama will advance to face either Duke or Arizona in the Elite 8.
BYU Basketball Outmatched By Red-Hot Crimson Tide
Pregame
Oh, how Sweet it is… See you at 7:09 EST#Big12MBB | @BYUMBB pic.twitter.com/NHAEYsEEhY
— Big 12 Studios (@big12studios) March 27, 2025
gameday routine pic.twitter.com/n2OOAvuIgy
— Cosmo Cougar (@TheCosmoCougar) March 27, 2025
BYU vs. Alabama in the Sweet 16 🤙 pic.twitter.com/V5btwEBlEL
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) March 27, 2025
BYU is preparing to play in the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2011.
Tonight vs. No. 2 seed Alabama pic.twitter.com/YalDqIpVhr
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) March 27, 2025
en route pic.twitter.com/fTsHtELlXg
— BYU Men’s Basketball (@BYUMBB) March 27, 2025
Tot King is on site pic.twitter.com/ImnMeR8LI7
— BYU Men’s Basketball (@BYUMBB) March 27, 2025
locked in pic.twitter.com/EDOHyArrZ4
— BYU Men’s Basketball (@BYUMBB) March 27, 2025
TOGETHER. pic.twitter.com/b4eliMMv1w
— BYU Men’s Basketball (@BYUMBB) March 27, 2025
The dance is just getting started 🕺
The Sweet 16 starts TONIGHT 🔥 #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/7XRHfbvCqc
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 27, 2025
Actor Jon Heder, the man who played Napoleon Dynamite is here with @OreIdaPotatoes for the BYU-Alabama NCAA Tournament game. pic.twitter.com/SFIuPSKdHh
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) March 27, 2025
BYU signee AJ Dybantsa and his parents are here in Newark for BYU vs. Alabama. pic.twitter.com/jlANCjhMQ6
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) March 27, 2025
IN THE HOUSE.@ADybantsa 🤝 pic.twitter.com/bKISeg6svb
— BYU Men’s Basketball (@BYUMBB) March 27, 2025
final prep pic.twitter.com/PYgtSO1HOS
— BYU Men’s Basketball (@BYUMBB) March 27, 2025
Starting lineups for BYU vs. Alabama in the Sweet 16 pic.twitter.com/2caJ9qX4BY
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) March 27, 2025
🔁🔁🔁 pic.twitter.com/YjHzJ14LaL
— BYU Men’s Basketball (@BYUMBB) March 27, 2025
Former BYU head coach Dave Rose and his wife Cheryl are here in Newark.
Before Kevin Young, Rose was the last coach to lead BYU to the Sweet 16. pic.twitter.com/OmbwcEToKL
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) March 27, 2025
BYU fans showing up in Newark. pic.twitter.com/QFjpb4jMkA
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) March 27, 2025
The scene is set in Newark 👀#MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/eovvgPlqiU
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 27, 2025
first five guys ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/wioZ39lnU3
— BYU Men’s Basketball (@BYUMBB) March 27, 2025
Sweet 16, here we go. It’s time.
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) March 27, 2025
it’s go time Cougs. pic.twitter.com/VMzpYlNR9J
— BYU Men’s Basketball (@BYUMBB) March 27, 2025
First Half
Let’s get the Sweet 16 started! 🕺
👉 https://t.co/Cw7PWdG3Nq#MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/9tlmRvK4cJ
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 27, 2025
The BYU offense is going to work early 💨#MarchMadness @BYUMBB pic.twitter.com/80PshJsRN5
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 27, 2025
Both these teams are off to a FLYING start 😳#MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/ykrfnCJpWR
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 27, 2025
The two high-powered offenses have shown up and lived up to the hype in the BYU-Alabama game.
BYU leads Alabama 13-12 at the under-16 media timeout.
The best part was that no fouls were called. Clean basketball to open.
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) March 27, 2025
Say it with us…
GO COUGS! pic.twitter.com/Ga1AlprhgM
— BYU Cougars (@BYUCougars) March 27, 2025
first Keba dunk of the night 😍 pic.twitter.com/B4AJBjov7Z
— BYU Men’s Basketball (@BYUMBB) March 27, 2025
Fousseyni Traore getting crafty with the finish 🪄#MarchMadness @BYUMBB pic.twitter.com/8LHmHLZWxK
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 27, 2025
Traore getting busy down low 😤#MarchMadness @BYUMBB pic.twitter.com/JHoCCnqZ7K
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 27, 2025
Fousseyni Traore gets the layup to go through contact. Alabama has been lights out from three, but BYU is keeping it close.
27-25 with 10:43 left in the first half.
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) March 27, 2025
Really like what we’re seeing early on from BYU’s bigs, Keba Keita and Fousseyni Traore to open this game.
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) March 27, 2025
Alabama has already knocked down seven 3-pointers on 14 attempts at the under-12 media timeout.
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) March 27, 2025
BYU is living in the paint (22 points), Alabama is dominating from 3-point range (27 points).
All-American guard Mark Sears is on fire. He’s up to 14 points on six field goal attempts.
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) March 27, 2025
Trevin Knell suffered a bloody nose after a hard collision. He’s on the bench right now. Replacing him was BYU freshman Kanon Catchings.
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) March 27, 2025
Egor Demin putting the moves on 👀#MarchMadness @BYUMBB pic.twitter.com/Ck3K22KD2p
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 27, 2025
Richie Saunders is having an efficient night so far, but there have been no 3-point attempts from BYU’s top player.
BYU, as a team, has only attempted eight 3-pointers.
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) March 27, 2025
Richie’s smooth with it.pic.twitter.com/OebxtDkufp
— BYU Men’s Basketball (@BYUMBB) March 27, 2025
Transition alleys 😤#MarchMadness @BYUMBB pic.twitter.com/Ig0CINc4sh
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 27, 2025
— BYU Men’s Basketball (@BYUMBB) March 27, 2025
“THROW IT UP, RICHIE!”
-All of Cougar Nation pic.twitter.com/fgK4wDd5bV
— BYU Cougars (@BYUCougars) March 28, 2025
Missed opportunity from BYU in a three-minute stretch where they held Alabama without a field goal.
Despite no field goals, Bama built its lead from 10 to 12, when Cliff Omoruyi ended the drought with a slam dunk.
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) March 28, 2025
Halftime: Alabama 51, BYU 40
Three-point shooting
– BYU: 1-13
– Alabama: 12-27— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) March 28, 2025
Richie Saunders always shows up. But he needs more help.
Saunders in the first half:
– 12 points
– 5-7 FG
– 4 REB
– 2 Assists
– 17 minutes— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) March 28, 2025
Second Half
Richie Saunders throwing it down 😤#MarchMadness @BYUMBB pic.twitter.com/h2IusvMKQT
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 28, 2025
After a strong two-hand Richie Saunders fastbreak slam, BYU is called for its second blocking foul in two possessions. Cougar fans in Newark aren’t happy, to say the least.
55-47 Alabama with 18:30 left in regulation
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) March 28, 2025
BYU fans inside the Prudential Center were not happy with Tony Padilla’s blocking foul call on Trevin Knell.
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) March 28, 2025
BYU got it down to eight and then Mark Sears led Alabama on an 8-0 run.
Alabama 63, BYU 47 – 16:48 remaining
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) March 28, 2025
The momentum early in the second half was building towards BYU after Trevin Knell buried a corner three. Then the technical foul was called on Knell.
Let’s see if BYU can bounce back.
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) March 28, 2025
Good things happen when Egor gets downhill.
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) March 28, 2025
Egor Demin what a finish 😳#MarchMadness @BYUMBB pic.twitter.com/pFY6FRf0gH
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 28, 2025
Egor Demin with an and-one to drop the lead to 12 before the free throw. Chance for BYU to build up some momentum here.
63-51 | 15:59 2H https://t.co/K1QrAIZeK1
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) March 28, 2025
— BYU Men’s Basketball (@BYUMBB) March 28, 2025
HUGE three from Egor Demin. 8-0 run for BYU and the lead was single digits for just a second until Alabama responded.
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) March 28, 2025
Keep Egor and Richie in for the rest of the game. Season is on the line. Demin is stepping up in the second half.
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) March 28, 2025
They’re trading threes in the second half 👀
👉 https://t.co/Cw7PWdG3Nq#MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/LvYSS4SXqv
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 28, 2025
BYU would get the deficit trimmed down to single-digits, then Alabama’s Aden Holloway hit big shots to keep the Tide in front by double-figures.
BYU trails by 14 with 11:58 to go.
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) March 28, 2025
Alabama has 19 made 3-pointers. BYU has only attempted 21 threes.
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) March 28, 2025
Alabama set the record for most made 3s in an NCAA Tournament game.
22 three-pointers and there’s still 7:14 remaining.
Bama passed LMU’s record of 21 threes against Michigan.
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) March 28, 2025
THE TIDE ROLL TO THE ELITE 8 🐘
(2) Alabama defeats (6) BYU 113-88 to make their second straight appearance in the Elite 8 🔥 #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/Ngp2D0BgRO
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 28, 2025
Follow BYU and the NCAA Tournament on KSL Sports
The Cougars received a No. 6 seed in the East Region and will continue their “Big Dance” in Newark on Thursday against the No. 2 Alabama Crimson Tide.
Follow the BYU Cougars with KSL Sports here.
