BYU's Season Ends in NCAA Loss

0:00On March 20th, BYU's run in the NCAA tournament ended early with a 79-71 loss to Texas in the first round. Freshman star AJ DeBonza put up big numbers, but the Cougars couldn't get enough help from the rest of the team to pull off the upset. Texas dominated inside thanks to Big Man, Motaz Vokieta-Itas, who finished with 23 points and 17 rebounds, including a double-double-in, the first half alone. BYU struggled from deep, hitting just 4 of 22 three-pointers, while Texas made 8 of 22. Fans and analysts are calling this one of the most disappointing seasons in BYU program history, especially after high hopes. The team dealt with injuries all year and lacked the defensive toughness and scoring death to hang with top squads. Late in the game, Vokieta-Itas missed 3 of 11 free throws, giving BYU a shot down 75-71. But the Cougars came up empty on their final possessions and couldn't mount a comeback. It's a tough end for a talented group, but AJ's performance shows a bright future ahead for BYU basketball.