BYU gets revenge on the Runnin' Utes, end season on 8-game winning streak

After a heartbreaking overtime defeat to its rival in January, BYU got its revenge on Utah, picking up an 85-74 victory in Provo on Saturday night.

This was the Cougars eighth win in a row and they will head to Kansas City next week with two byes in the first two rounds of the Big 12 Tournament.

They have all the momentum in the world.

This game was definitely one of the more physical games this season. Both teams combined for 46 fouls — three technicals in total — and the game lasted about 20-30 minutes longer than most games that end in regulation.

Ezra Ausar picked up right where he left off from his 26-point performance against the Cougars in January. In the first half, Ausar had 10 points and seven rebounds.

Ausar was dominating, and the Cougars struggled from deep.

BYU opened the game 0 of 13 from 3-point range and trailed by five before Dawson Baker hit a huge 3-pointer with 2:48 left in the first.

BYU's big man, Mihailo Boskovic, then hit a 3-pointer the very next possession to give the Cougars the lead.

Up by one with 30 seconds left, BYU put together the perfect ending to the half.

They forced a turnover from Utah forward, Caleb Lohner, and then Dallin Hall hit a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to put BYU up 34-30 at halftime.

The second half was all Cougars.

BYU was able to shut down any potential impact from Ausar, holding him to only two points on 1 of 5 shooting.

"We were guarding their centers with Egor, our point guard, and then put [Keba Keita] on Ausar," Young said about the second half defensive adjustments. "I thought that neutralized them."

Utah only shot 35.6% in the second half compared to BYU's 61.5%.

Everything that Utah couldn't do, BYU did. At one point, BYU led the game by 19 points, before pulling out an 11-point victory.

Photo by Jordan Burr

"They are mentally in a space to take the world on," Young said about his players before postseason play begins.

Young coached his group to an impressive 23-8 record in his first year, and capped off the season with BYU's first win over Utah since 2022.

BYU will play in the quarterfinals of the Big 12 Tournament on Thursday.