DENVER – BYU basketball opened its 2025 NCAA Tournament run with an impressive victory over the VCU Rams at Ball Arena on Thursday.
Almost the entirety of the 40 minutes were dead even. The second half and the vast majority of the first didnt have a clear winner. However, the Cougars closed the first on a 12-2 run to lead by double digits going into the break. VCU did everything it could to claw back but fell just short.
Richie Saunders led the Cougs in scoring with 16. Egor Demin and Fousseyni Traore were the only other players to reach double figures with 15 and 13 respectively.
BYU will move on to face No. 3 seed Wisconsin on Saturday in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
BYU Basketball Beats VCU, Advances To Round Of 32
Pregame
office for the day pic.twitter.com/S7PPn8fYsK
— BYU Men’s Basketball (@BYUMBB) March 20, 2025
let’s roll pic.twitter.com/7kIgsjPX4W
— BYU Men’s Basketball (@BYUMBB) March 20, 2025
Starting lineups for BYU vs VCU. pic.twitter.com/OfLqGy4Yh1
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) March 20, 2025
BYU great Jimmer Fredette has arrived at Ball Arena here in Denver for BYU’s NCAA Tournament game against VCU. pic.twitter.com/kvCV2oPfn5
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) March 20, 2025
The man. The myth. The legend. @jimmerfredette out here supporting! 🤙 pic.twitter.com/4CAZDqKKc3
— BYU Men’s Basketball (@BYUMBB) March 20, 2025
Final: (3) Wisconsin 85, (14) Montana 66
Badgers will face the winner of BYU/VCU in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) March 20, 2025
it’s our turn😏 pic.twitter.com/9Uz8sdwC1k
— BYU Men’s Basketball (@BYUMBB) March 20, 2025
almost that time⏳ pic.twitter.com/oCGAONduHe
— BYU Men’s Basketball (@BYUMBB) March 20, 2025
gettin’ loose pic.twitter.com/GRDScthV1N
— BYU Men’s Basketball (@BYUMBB) March 20, 2025
BYU royalty right here: Jimmer Fredette, Taysom Hill, and Danny Ainge in the background. pic.twitter.com/7AUWCCTBoB
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) March 20, 2025
STARTING 5 pic.twitter.com/2dpoaASh5C
— BYU Men’s Basketball (@BYUMBB) March 20, 2025
go time. pic.twitter.com/NARSZzyFVp
— BYU Men’s Basketball (@BYUMBB) March 20, 2025
Tipoff!@BYUMBB‘s March Madness run is officially underway. pic.twitter.com/jltxxO645v
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) March 20, 2025
First Half
With his first two points of the game, Trevin Knell moves up to 50th on the all-time scoring list with 1,069 points passing Keena Young (2004-07).#BYUHoops #GoCougs
— BYU Game Notes (@BYUGameNotes) March 20, 2025
Keita soars in for the Cougars REJECTION 🚫
BYU vs VCU underway NOW: https://t.co/Cw7PWdGBCY#MarchMadness @BYUMBB pic.twitter.com/eqp8pCYJRk
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 20, 2025
After getting behind 5-0 early, BYU had a quick response.
VCU leads 8-6 at the first media timeout.
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) March 20, 2025
15:48 1H
BYU 6 – 8 VCU
Egor Demin with a nice fake pass into a left-handed layup for the Cougars’ last basket.
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) March 20, 2025
That pump fake from Egor Demin was excellent. His style of play could make him a March Madness favorite among fans.
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) March 20, 2025
ANOTHER rejection for Keita to start the game 😤#MarchMadness @BYUMBB https://t.co/53JlGg20JQ pic.twitter.com/fC4LeHLpXY
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 20, 2025
BYU is playing physical. Richie Saunders with a tough drive against Shulga, Keba Keita already has two blocks, and even Trevin Knell is getting after it on a jump ball with Shulga.
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) March 20, 2025
Oh, man. That dunk attempt by Keita, wow.
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) March 20, 2025
Can you imagine if this would’ve gone down?? 😳 pic.twitter.com/qDHwlqzbGw
— BYU Cougars (@BYUCougars) March 20, 2025
Kanon Catchings has entered the game for BYU.
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) March 20, 2025
12:00 1H
BYU 14- 17 VCU
Egor Demin with two three-pointers before VCU went on a 7-0 run.
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) March 20, 2025
Egor Demin is looking like a lottery pick on the offensive end today against VCU.
When he knocks down threes, it’s a game changer for BYU.
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) March 20, 2025
Back-and-forth action between BYU and VCU. Tied up at 22.
Kevin Young has already played 10 players in his rotation in the first 12 minutes of the game.
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) March 20, 2025
a lot of cougar blue in Denver 🤙 pic.twitter.com/8xp1hN0jQN
— BYU Men’s Basketball (@BYUMBB) March 20, 2025
7:42 1H
BYU 22 – 22 VCU
Egor Demin still leads the way for the Cougars with eight points on 3-4 shooting.
(Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) pic.twitter.com/TZkgGCuEve
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) March 20, 2025
BYU has only attempted six 3-pointers at the 7:42 mark of the first half.
Low volume, but hitting 50% of their attempts, thanks to Egor Demin and Dawson Baker.
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) March 20, 2025
Richie Saunders moves up to 53rd on the all-time scoring list with 1,033 points passing Bernie Fryer (1970-72).#BYUHoops #GoCougs
— BYU Game Notes (@BYUGameNotes) March 20, 2025
Automatic from deep! 3-pointer for the @BYUMBB lead ✅ pic.twitter.com/Wb6VN5Viva
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) March 20, 2025
Egor Demin SPLASHES his third triple for BYU 🎯#MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/OTeW3CDncr
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 20, 2025
three threes and counting for @whoisegor3 👌 pic.twitter.com/6ysne0EpzS
— BYU Men’s Basketball (@BYUMBB) March 20, 2025
Great pass from Fousseyni Traore in the post to find an open Mawot Mag.
BYU is building some momentum.
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) March 20, 2025
3:49 1H
BYU 29 – 26 VCU
A little 5-2 run from the Cougs followed by a VCU turnover carried the game into the final media timeout of the half.
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) March 20, 2025
— BYU Men’s Basketball (@BYUMBB) March 20, 2025
BYU coach Kevin Young and his staff continue to do a nice job in ATOs. Coming out of the under-8, designing a play for Richie Saunders to gain momentum, go around a screen, and get into the paint for a bucket.
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) March 20, 2025
. @whoisegor3 getting BUCKETS 🔥pic.twitter.com/AIKbHY52PN
— BYU Men’s Basketball (@BYUMBB) March 20, 2025
Fouss with the DIME 😮💨pic.twitter.com/lzOwm39rOu
— BYU Men’s Basketball (@BYUMBB) March 20, 2025
Big three from Trevin Knell to counter the brief momentum spurt for VCU after Zeb Jackson’s bucket at the rim.
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) March 20, 2025
0:45 1H
BYU 37 – 28 VCU
Trevin Knell hit a three-pointer in the corner to extend the BYU lead to nine, forcing VCU to call a timeout.
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) March 20, 2025
Cougs end the half on a 12-2 run!! pic.twitter.com/Gq0CI73PF6
— BYU Men’s Basketball (@BYUMBB) March 20, 2025
— BYU Men’s Basketball (@BYUMBB) March 20, 2025
show out Cougs 🤙 pic.twitter.com/pXQ25nvXim
— BYU Men’s Basketball (@BYUMBB) March 20, 2025
Halftime: BYU 39, VCU 28
Richie Saunders left the game with two fouls at the 4:31 mark, with BYU up 27-24.
BYU closed the half on a 12-4 run.
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) March 20, 2025
HALFTIME
BYU 39- 28 VCU
The Cougars carry a double-digit into the locker room on the back of 11 points from Egor Demin and seven points from Fous Traore.
Jack Clark and Zeb Jackson lead the way for the Rams with seven points.#MarchMadness
(Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty… pic.twitter.com/25835BrrZJ
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) March 20, 2025
BYU is shooting 50% from the field, 50% from three.
VCU is only hitting 38% and 25% respectively.
BYU’s defense showed up in Denver. Playing with physicality.
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) March 20, 2025
Cougs on top at the break. pic.twitter.com/1aOxJtFnZT
— BYU Men’s Basketball (@BYUMBB) March 20, 2025
Second Half
Richie Saunders just scored six points in 17 seconds.
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) March 20, 2025
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) March 20, 2025
7-0 run!!!!!
— BYU Men’s Basketball (@BYUMBB) March 20, 2025
Chants of “B-Y-U! B-Y-U!” inside the Ball Arena as BYU jumps out to an 18-point lead.
They are imposing their style of play on this game. BYU is rolling.
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) March 20, 2025
Mood 😎 pic.twitter.com/U9qmEeZZiu
— BYU Cougars (@BYUCougars) March 20, 2025
16:45 2H
BYU 52 – 34 VCU
7-0 run from the Cougs forced VCU to call a timeout. The very large BYU representation here at Ball Arena is getting loud.
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) March 20, 2025
Every game a home game.pic.twitter.com/aCpf3X2Yz9
— BYU Cougars (@BYUCougars) March 20, 2025
BYU is taking over to start the 2H 🔥#MarchMadness @BYUMBB pic.twitter.com/dgywM9Q2wY
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 20, 2025
He’s a walking bucket.
— BYU Men’s Basketball (@BYUMBB) March 20, 2025
14:52 2H
BYU 54 – 39 VCU
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) March 20, 2025
Keba Keita and Fous Traore have controlled the paint on both sides of the floor. They have combined for 16 of BYU’s 30 rebounds and Keita has three thunderous blocks.@BYUMBB
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) March 20, 2025
11:56 2H
BYU 56 – 39 VCU
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) March 20, 2025
— BYU Cougars (@BYUCougars) March 20, 2025
BYU is maintaining its double-digit lead. VCU keeps getting it down to 10 points, then BYU finds answers.
Keba Keita has been strong on the glass with nine rebounds (5 Def, 4 Off).
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) March 20, 2025
7:48 2H
BYU 64 -52 VCU
VCU went on a run, getting within ten points, but the Cougars have been able to stop the bleeding.
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) March 20, 2025
7:48 left to play …
Cougs on top 64-52. pic.twitter.com/ri12K5yVrP
— BYU Men’s Basketball (@BYUMBB) March 20, 2025
— BYU Men’s Basketball (@BYUMBB) March 20, 2025
3:54 2H
BYU 70 – 55 VCU
The Cougars have been able to weather each comeback attempt from the Rams throughout the second half and are now less than four minutes away from a date with Wisconsin in the Second Round.
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) March 20, 2025
smoooooooooth with itpic.twitter.com/9XuMJJpsiX
— BYU Men’s Basketball (@BYUMBB) March 20, 2025
see you in round two ✌️ pic.twitter.com/mV5099SHMT
— BYU Men’s Basketball (@BYUMBB) March 20, 2025
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.
Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for KSLsports.com and hosts the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (12–3 p.m.) on KSL Newsradio. Follow Mitch’s coverage of BYU in the Big 12 Conference on X: @Mitch_Harper.
Chandler Holt is a co-host of the Jazz Notes podcast, a Locals In The NFL Insider, and Digital Sports Producer for KSLSports.com. Follow Chandler on X for Utah Jazz and Locals In The NFL updates.
Tanner Tripp is a sports writer for KSL Sports covering all teams across the state of Utah. Follow him on X @tanner_tripp and Instagram @tanner.tripp here.
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