Richie Saunders and BYU deliver a terrifying performance against Wisconsin in their tournament rematch.

Jeff Hauser

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BYU, Richie Saunders create nightmare fuel for Wisconsin in tourney rematch image

TL;DR

  • Richie Saunders led No. 9 BYU to a 98-70 victory over No. 23 Wisconsin with 26 points.
  • Saunders hit five 3-pointers, contributing to BYU's dominant offensive performance against the Badgers.
  • AJ Dybantsa added 18 points and six rebounds, while Rob Wright III had 11 assists for BYU.
  • Wisconsin struggled offensively, shooting 32 percent in the first half despite strong performances from Boyd and Winter.

Richie Saunders once again proved to be Wisconsin’s problem.

Eight months after scoring 25 points and grabbing seven rebounds against the Badgers in the NCAA Tournament, Saunders put on an even more impressive performance Friday afternoon. 

The "Tater Tot King" scored 26 points, hitting five 3-pointers, to guide No. 9 BYU to a 98-70 victory over No. 23 Wisconsin at the Delta Center. He fueled a Cougars offense that dominated the Badgers throughout the game.

Saunders contributed three rebounds, two assists, and two steals, stepping up when star freshman AJ Dybantsa encountered foul issues. His play was instrumental in BYU (4-1) securing its initial victory against a ranked opponent this season, strengthening his burgeoning All-America candidacy.

Dybantsa still put up 18 points and six rebounds, and Rob Wright III orchestrated the offense with 11 assists, surpassing Wisconsin's team total by three, in addition to scoring 10 points. BYU's shooting percentages were 54 percent from the field and 44 percent from three-point range. 

The Badgers (4-1) struggled to keep pace with The Cougars' offensive flow. Wisconsin experienced several prolonged scoring lulls, managing only 32 percent in the initial half. Despite Nick Boyd's 16 points and Nolan Winter's 14 points and 14 rebounds, their efforts weren't enough to halt BYU's momentum.

Wisconsin briefly pulled within 56-49 after halftime, but Saunders slammed the door with a layup and four 3-pointers to spark a decisive 31-9 run.

Saunders is currently scoring an average of 20.8 points per contest, with a 40% success rate from three-point range. These statistics could potentially lead to widespread acclaim.

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Editorial Team