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West Virginia to Face BYU in Big 12 Tournament Second Round
The Mountaineers look to keep their NCAA Tournament hopes alive against the high-powered Cougars offense.
Mar. 11, 2026 at 1:05am
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The 10-seed BYU Cougars defeated the 15-seed Kansas State Wildcats 105-91 in the opening round of the Big 12 Conference Tournament, setting up a second-round matchup with the 7-seed West Virginia Mountaineers. The two teams previously met on February 28th, with West Virginia frustrating BYU star AJ Dybantsa in the first half before the Cougars mounted a second-half comeback. Brenen Lorient had a strong game for the Mountaineers in the earlier matchup.
Why it matters
This game is crucial for West Virginia's NCAA Tournament hopes, as a win over BYU and then potentially over No. 2 seed Houston would give the Mountaineers seven Quad 1 wins, which only 17 teams have achieved this season. All 17 of those teams are currently projected to make the NCAA Tournament.
The details
BYU has an explosive offense that can score in bunches, as evidenced by their 105-point outburst against Kansas State. However, the Cougars have struggled defensively, particularly in the final 12 games of the regular season when they allowed an average of 84.8 points per game. In the first matchup, West Virginia was able to frustrate BYU star AJ Dybantsa in the first half before he found his rhythm in the second half. Brenen Lorient had a strong game for the Mountaineers, posting 18 points and 9 rebounds.
- The game is set for 8 p.m. ET on ESPN2 on Thursday, March 12, 2026.
- The winner will advance to the quarterfinals to take on No. 2 seed Houston at 7 p.m. ET on Thursday, March 12, 2026.
The players
AJ Dybantsa
A projected top-two pick in the upcoming NBA Draft, Dybantsa is the star player for the BYU Cougars.
Brenen Lorient
A key contributor for the West Virginia Mountaineers, Lorient had a strong game against BYU in the teams' previous matchup.
Ross Hodge
The head coach of the West Virginia Mountaineers, Hodge will look to guide his team to a win over BYU and keep their NCAA Tournament hopes alive.
What they’re saying
“Getting out to a fast start is going to be key in this one. BYU has an explosive offense, even without Richie Saunders. The Cougars can score it in bunches, as witnessed tonight in Kansas City, scoring over 100, and in their 45-point second half outburst in Morgantown.”
— Ross Hodge, Head Coach, West Virginia Mountaineers
What’s next
The winner of the West Virginia vs. BYU matchup will advance to the quarterfinals to take on No. 2 seed Houston on Thursday at 7 p.m. ET.
The takeaway
This second-round matchup between West Virginia and BYU is a crucial one for the Mountaineers' NCAA Tournament hopes. A win over the high-powered Cougars offense and then potentially over Houston would give West Virginia seven Quad 1 wins, putting them firmly in the mix for an at-large bid.
