PROVO, Utah – The No. 25 BYU Cougars are gearing up for their much-anticipated rematch against the West Virginia Mountaineers on Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the Marriott Center. This matchup marks the second meeting this season between the two teams, having previously faced off on February 11, where BYU secured a narrow victory with a score of 73-69.
BYU is currently enjoying a five-game winning streak and is eager to extend this to six games as they look to bolster their standing for the upcoming NCAA Tournament. Currently holding a record of 20 wins and 8 losses overall, with 11 victories against 6 defeats within the Big 12 Conference, the Cougars are pushing hard to maintain their fourth place ranking within the league. This position will allow them to earn a double-bye for the Big 12 Conference Tournament scheduled to take place in Kansas City later this month.
On the other side of the court, the West Virginia Mountaineers come to Provo with their own 17-11 overall record and 8-9 mark within the Big 12, having faced inconsistency throughout their season. Since their initial loss to the Cougars, West Virginia has seen varied results, most recently defeating TCU 73-55 earlier this week. Despite their ups and downs, they remain competitive and will aim for redemption against BYU.
The Cougars' key player, junior guard Richie Saunders, has played a significant role during this winning streak, scoring over 20 points per game over the last three outings. His recent performances have helped propel the BYU offense, which has shown remarkable efficiency, averaging over 90 points per game with superior shooting percentages and low turnover rates. "BYU has won both meetings against West Virginia since joining the Big 12 last season," pointed out KSL Sports, emphasizing BYU's dominance since becoming conference rivals.
West Virginia's standout guard, Javon Small, who leads the team with 18.4 points per game, was effectively contained during their last meeting, scoring only nine points and attempting just one shot during the second half. Small will need to challenge the BYU defense more significantly if the Mountaineers are to turn this matchup around.
This game has significant NCAA Tournament ramifications for both teams. Up to this point, BYU is projected to land as an 8-seed and West Virginia as a 10-seed, according to Bracket Matrix analytics. With both teams vying for solid positions, the stakes could not be higher.
Fans can catch the game live on ESPN2 with the broadcast team of Rich Hollenberg and King McClure providing play-by-play analysis. For those unable to access the television broadcast, the game will also be available for streaming on platforms like YouTube TV, Hulu with Live TV, Disney+, and Fubo, as well as directly through the ESPN app.
Each squad will be bringing its A-game, and the interest around the match is palpable, as ESPN’s Matchup Predictor gives BYU a solid 75% chance of winning. BYU's impressive scoring offense, averaging 81.1 points per game, faces off against the Mountaineers' defense, which allows just 64.1 points per contest—placing them among the top defenses nationally.
For radio listeners, KSL NewsRadio will provide extensive coverage, commencing with pregame analysis leading up to tip-off at 8 p.m. (MST). Fans can tune in at 102.7 FM or 1160 AM, or stream the coverage through KSL's digital platforms.
With everything on the line, both the Cougars and Mountaineers are ready for what promises to be another thrilling encounter. Will BYU extend its winning streak to six games, or can West Virginia regain its footing and claim victory on the road? Tune in to find out!