Mawot Mag stopped John Tonje’s final shot attempt and BYU held off Wisconsin 91-89 to advance to the Sweet 16.

In a game between two of the nation’s best offenses, both teams delivered with elite offensive play. BYU as a team shot 49% from the field, 12-26 (46%) from three, and 15-16 from the foul line. BYU outscored Wisconsin 38-28 in the paint and 22-3 in bench points. Richie Saunders led BYU with 25 points and 6 offensive rebounds, Trevin Knell scored 14, and Egor Demin had 11 points to go with 8 boards and 8 assists.

Wisconsin star player John Tonje was 0-4 from three in the first half, but was nearly unstoppable down the stretch and finished with 37 points. Wisconsin setup a play for him on the final possession, but Mawot Mag forced Tonje into a contested fadeaway and airball. The Badgers as a team had just 5 turnovers and were 12-35 from distance.

BYU is in the Sweet 16 for just the third time in the last 50 years and will play the winner of Alabama-Saint Mary’s next Thursday in Newark. Since the tournament expanded to 32 teams in 1975, this is the first time BYU has made the Sweet 16 without the National Player of the Year. BYU made the Sweet 16 in 1981 with Danny Ainge and 2011 with Jimmer Fredette.