Texas Upsets BYU 79 - 71 as Matas Vokietaitis Dominates and Ends AJ Dybantsa March Madness Run

PORTLAND, Ore. — Texas Longhorns men's basketball continued its late season surge with a 79 - 71 win over the BYU Cougars men's basketball in a first round matchup of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament, powered by a dominant performance from Matas Vokietaitis.

Vokietaitis recorded 23 points and 16 rebounds, controlling the interior on both ends and setting the tone early as No. 11 seed Texas advanced to the Round of 32. The breaking update result comes just two days after Texas secured its tournament entry through a First Four win, highlighting a rapid turnaround in form.

The Longhorns improved to 19 - 14 and will face the Gonzaga Bulldogs men's basketball in the next round, extending a latest timeline that now positions Texas as one of the more dangerous lower seeded teams remaining in the West Region.

Tramon Mark added 19 points, continuing his late game scoring impact after delivering a game winner in the First Four. Texas built a 46 - 37 halftime lead and maintained control for most of the second half, with its largest advantage reaching 68 - 51.

BYU, however, remained competitive behind AJ Dybantsa, who finished with 35 points while playing the full 40 minutes. The freshman entered the tournament as the nation’s leading scorer and delivered one of the top individual performances of the opening round despite the loss.

Dybantsa’s scoring output placed him just short of program NCAA Tournament records previously set by Danny Aingeand Jimmer Fredette, underscoring his offensive impact and potential NBA trajectory. His late second half run helped cut the deficit to single digits, including an eight point stretch that narrowed the margin to 68 - 59.

The key statistical battle came in the paint and on the glass. Vokietaitis dominated early, matching BYU’s entire team rebound total in the first half with 11 boards. Texas leveraged that advantage into second chance opportunities and controlled tempo throughout key stretches.

Despite Vokietaitis struggling at the free throw line, where he shot 3 for 11, Texas maintained composure in the closing moments. A defensive stop, highlighted by a blocked shot from Vokietaitis, and two late free throws from Mark secured the outcome.

From an impact perspective, Texas’ win reflects a team peaking at the right time. After an inconsistent regular season, the Longhorns have now won consecutive elimination games, showing improved cohesion and execution under Sean Miller.

For BYU, the loss brings immediate focus to roster outlook and next steps. Dybantsa is widely projected as a potential top selection in the upcoming NBA draft, and his decision will shape the program’s near term trajectory. The Cougars finished 23 - 12 and demonstrated high level offensive capability but struggled to contain interior play against physical opponents.

Historically, First Four teams advancing and winning additional games has become more common, and Texas adds to that trend with another upset victory over a higher seeded opponent.

Looking ahead, Texas faces a significant challenge against Gonzaga, a program with extensive tournament experience and consistent postseason success. The matchup will test whether the Longhorns’ recent momentum can translate against a top tier opponent.

The outlook for Texas centers on interior production and defensive discipline, while BYU shifts toward offseason decisions following a high scoring but ultimately incomplete tournament run.