No. 11 Texas Defeats No. 6 BYU in NCAA Tournament

Longhorns overcome career-high performance from BYU's projected No. 1 NBA Draft pick

Mar. 20, 2026 at 8:10am

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In a West Region matchup, No. 11 seed Texas defeated No. 6 seed BYU 79-71 in the NCAA Tournament. Texas was led by Matas Vokietaitis' 23 points and 16 rebounds, as well as 19 points from Tramon Mark. BYU's AJ Dybantsa had a standout game with 35 points and 10 rebounds, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Longhorns.

Why it matters

This game featured a clash between two highly ranked teams, with the lower-seeded Texas squad proving too much for the favored BYU team. The result shakes up the West Region bracket and sets up an intriguing matchup for the Longhorns in the next round.

The details

Texas took control of the game in the second half, building a 68-51 lead. However, BYU's Dybantsa, a projected top NBA draft pick, sparked a 15-0 run to bring his team back within striking distance. The Longhorns were able to hold on down the stretch, despite some missed free throws, to secure the victory.

  • The game was played on Thursday, March 20, 2026.
  • Texas did not land in Portland until around 6 a.m. local time on Wednesday, the day before the game.

The players

Matas Vokietaitis

A Texas player who had 23 points and a career-high 16 rebounds in the game.

Tramon Mark

A Texas player who scored 19 points, including 4 clinching free throws, for the Longhorns.

AJ Dybantsa

A BYU freshman who had a standout performance with 35 points and 10 rebounds, and is a projected top pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.

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What’s next

Texas will advance to the next round of the NCAA Tournament, where they will face a new opponent.

The takeaway

This game showcased the talent and competitiveness of both teams, with Texas ultimately prevailing despite the heroics of BYU's star player. The result sets up an intriguing matchup for the Longhorns as they continue their tournament run.