Egor Demin Makes It Rain, Leads BYU To Halftime Lead Over VCU
Mar 20, 2025, 3:13 PM
DENVER, COLORADO - MARCH 20: Egor Demin #3 of the Brigham Young Cougars attempts a three-point basket over Jack Clark #4 of the Virginia Commonwealth Rams during the first half at Ball Arena on March 20, 2025 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
(Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
DENVER – BYU freshman guard Egor Demin showed up at the perfect time.
At the half of the Cougars first round NCAA Tournament game against the VCU Rams, Demin led all scorers with 11 points.
tied up 22-22 at the 8 min media TO.
Egor with 8 points to lead the Cougs pic.twitter.com/wV4hz9hier
— BYU Men’s Basketball (@BYUMBB) March 20, 2025
Maybe more impressively, he did so while shooting 67 percent from the floor and 75 percent from three.
It wasn’t just him though. As a team, BYU shot 50 percent from both the field and deep. Trevin Knell and Dawson Baker also found the range for the Cougars.
The balance between shots from deep and from inside the arc was perfect. No shot was forced and they took what VCU gave them every trip down.
. @whoisegor3 getting BUCKETS 🔥pic.twitter.com/AIKbHY52PN
— BYU Men’s Basketball (@BYUMBB) March 20, 2025
The first 15 minutes of the half were neck-and-neck.
Leading into the half, BYU took off on a 12-2 run led by Fousseyni Traore. The run had the Cougars leading 39-28 with 20 minutes of hoops left.
BYU Opens March Madness Run Against VCU Rams
BYU basketball opens up its NCAA Tournament run against the VCU Rams in the East Region today.
Following a 24-9 season and a semifinal appearance in the Big 12 Championship, the Cougars earned a 6-seed in the NCAA Tournament. Seen by many as a lower-seeded team with the potential for a deep run, BYU will first have to make it through the 28-6 Rams.
VCU starts three fifth-year seniors and often relies on their defense to suffocate opposing teams. They finished the year ranked 23rd in KenPom defensive efficiency. They are also No. 1 in the nation in effective field goal percentage.
It is far from an easy test but BYU is still favored by most outlets.
BYU Gameday Reading
- BYU vs. VCU: Three NCAA Tournament Game Day Thoughts
- Score Prediction For BYU’s NCAA Matchup Against VCU
- VCU Coach Ryan Odom Shares Thoughts On NCAA Matchup With BYU
- Unloading The Notebook From BYU’s Open NCAA Tournament Day In Denver
- VCU Star Max Shulga Reflects On Past History Against BYU
- BYU’s Kevin Young Compares NCAA Tournament Stage To NBA Finals
- Will BYU Make An NCAA Run? College Basketball World Weighs In
- BYU’s Richie Saunders Scores Big With Tater Tot NIL Deal
Follow BYU and the NCAA Tournament on KSL Sports
The Cougars received a No. 6 seed in the East Region and will open the “Big Dance” in Denver on Thursday against No. 11 seed VCU.
Follow the BYU Cougars with KSL Sports here.
