6 years later, BYU’s upset of No. 2 Gonzaga still resonates

In a new era of BYU basketball, it’s worth looking back at the program’s defining moments.

Six years ago, Cougar fans were still celebrating one of the biggest wins in recent memory — an upset of No. 2 Gonzaga on Senior Night at the Marriott Center on Feb. 22, 2020.

Gonzaga entered the matchup riding a 40-game conference win streak, the longest active streak in the country at the time. No. 23 BYU faced a team that had dominated the West Coast Conference for years.

But in front of a packed house, the Cougars delivered. Behind assertive performances from Yoeli Childs, Jake Toolson, TJ Haws, Zac Seljaas and Kolby Lee, BYU secured the win while holding the Bulldogs to 42% from the field.

“A lot of times you do all that stuff and you don’t get that Senior Night,” head coach Mark Pope said afterward. “But these guys did tonight, and it’s extraordinary, and I am so happy for them. I hope that all 18,000 of us in there and everybody who watched it on TV got to see something they’ll never forget because it’s one of those really special moments in sports and it’s not going to be our last.”

This signature win became a defining moment in Pope’s first season at BYU, one that ended with a 24–8 record.

As the buzzer sounded, students and fans alike stormed the court, celebrating this massive win with the team.

The Voice of the Cougars Greg Wrubell shared his perspective on the storming from his broadcast position.

“As the fans came on the floor and began to envelop our broadcast area, I’m still on the air and fans are high-fiving and trying to hug, and I’m seeing cellphones in my face as we’re still doing our thing,” Wrubell said. “You’re trying to stay professional and still do your job, but you’re certainly enjoying the moment with the fans. It was more of a party atmosphere.”

That Senior Night upset didn’t just cap a memorable season; six years later, that night still stands as a benchmark for what BYU basketball can be at its best — fearless, disciplined and capable of toppling the nation’s elite.

On Feb. 21, 2026, the Cougars delivered another signature victory, defeating No. 6 Iowa State 79–69 and marking BYU’s first top-10 win of the season, continuing the tradition of big wins in Provo.

Now, as BYU navigates a new chapter and a new conference, the Big 12, the echoes of that night — and others like Iowa State — still linger. The belief that the Cougars can compete with anyone hasn’t faded.

Six years ago, they set the standard. This year’s team is proving it still holds.