Mile High Magic: BYU holds off Wisconsin for 1st Sweet 16 since 2011

DENVER — Fourteen years after Jimmer Fredette led BYU by Wofford and Gonzaga at the then-Pepsi Center en route to the Sweet 16, BYU men's basketball found some more Mile High magic.

Richie Saunders poured in 25 points and seven rebounds, and Trevin Knell added 14 points on 5-of-9 shooting — including four 3-pointers — to lift BYU to a 91-89 win over Wisconsin in the second round of the NCAA Tournament Saturday night in front of 19,386 fans at Ball Arena and into their first regional semifinal since 2011.

The heir to the Ore-Ida tater tots throne approached his career-high of 30 points on 9-of-16 shooting, including three 3-pointers, in 28 minutes as the Cougars (26-9) toppled an opponent from the Big Ten for the first time in their NCAA Tournament history.

But in a game with 180 combined points, the biggest play came on defense, when Mawot Mag pushed aside John Tonje's 18th shot of the night in the final seconds to hold on for a 2-point win.

A lot of players dream of making the game-winning shot, of a buzzer-beater that leads to March magic or one shining moment. But for Mag, the 6-foot-7 native of Sudan who grew up in Australia and came to BYU as a graduate transfer as a defensive stopper, the dream was often to etch his name in history with the game-winning stop.

"I just wanted to have an impact in the game, whether it's defense or offense," said Mag, who also had 7 points, two assists and a steal. "Just doing whatever it takes to help my team win.

"For me to do that, it was a big moment. We were down the stretch, probably a lot of people watching, an NBA arena, and for me to get that stop means a lot. I'm just glad I got that stop and we won the game."

In the final timeout, BYU first-year head coach Kevin Young looked each of his players in the eyes and said, "We're going to get a stop and win this game," Keba Keita recalled.

"Just like Iowa State, just like Arizona, we've got to get a stop," the Utah transfer added. "That's what we did. I guess I was there at the right time in the right moment to get that rebound."

Egor Demin supplied 11 points, eight rebounds and eight assists — flirting with a triple-double and adding a steal, for good measure — while Keita added 10 points, five rebounds, three blocks and two steals for the Cougars.

Tonje poured in a game-high 37 points, four rebounds and four assists, connecting on eight field goals, three 3-pointers, and 13-of-15 free throws as the Badgers (27-10) cut the deficit as low as 91-89 on an 11-2 run.

The run was capped by Tonje's 3-point play during a late comeback that saw Dawson Baker ejected with a Flagrant 2 for "excessive" contact to the opponent's groin in the second half.

But the Cougars never doubted. Not in the final huddle from Young, and not in their minds, at least. There's a reason the team has won 26 games — the most by a first-year head coach in program history — including 11 of the last 12 and 15 of the last 18.

"When we have a belief like that, it really shows out on the court," Knell said, "and I believe our chemistry, the belief, the faith these guys have is something that really stands out, and I believe that's what propels us in close games like this."

First to 90 wins, but you've got to get a stop first.

No problem, Mag said.

The graduate senior guarded Tonje at the top of the key, took some contact as he pushed against a drive, and stayed on his feet when the senior guard from Omaha, Nebraska, tried to pump fake BYU's defensive specialist.

Tonje tried to spin into a jumper, but the ball fell off the rim and Keita pulled it down in his clutches to help the Cougars survive ... and advance (while collecting another $350,000 tournament unit, even).

"He was coming full steam downhill ... and I just tried to make it as difficult as possible to shoot and score," Mag said. "Once Keba got it, that was a big thing. Credit to him; all season long, he doesn't get that much credit but he's always there (to rebound). Credit to Keba."

John Blackwell had 21 points, six rebounds and three assists for Wisconsin, and Max Klesmit added 12 points.

With the win, BYU advanced to next week's East regional semifinals on March 27 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. The Cougars will face the winner of Sunday's second-round tilt between No. 2-seed Alabama and seventh-seeded Saint Mary's.

"It means a lot," Mag said. "I'm a part of history. Not many people make it to the Sweet 16. It's a credit to the hard work we do, to the coaching staff, GAs, managers, even the players. Kudos to everybody who works hard every day, and people behind the scenes.

"There's a whole lot of work to do left. You've got to have a short memory, move on, and get ready for either Saint Mary's or Alabama."

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