BYU Edges UCF In Overtime Thriller Amid Big 12 Tournament Push

BYU Edges UCF In Overtime Thriller Amid Big 12 Tournament Push...

BYU basketball outlasted UCF 87-83 in a dramatic overtime showdown Wednesday night at the Marriott Center in Provo, Utah. The high-stakes Big 12 Conference clash is trending nationally as both teams fight for NCAA Tournament positioning with just two weeks remaining in the regular season.

Senior guard Spencer Johnson led BYU (19-8, 7-7 Big 12) with 21 points, including a critical three-pointer in overtime. UCF (14-12, 5-9) nearly pulled off the road upset behind Darius Johnson's 23 points, but the Knights missed two potential game-winning shots in the final seconds of regulation.

The game gained national attention Wednesday night as ESPN's "College GameDay" crew highlighted it as one of the day's most consequential matchups. Social media erupted during overtime with #BYUvsUCF trending on X (formerly Twitter) as fans debated controversial officiating calls.

BYU's victory moves them into a tie for sixth place in the brutally competitive Big 12, while UCF remains in danger of missing the conference tournament. Both teams face ranked opponents this weekend, keeping the game relevant in NCAA bubble discussions.

Attendance reached 16,987 - BYU's sixth sellout this season - with the student section storming the court after the final buzzer. The Cougars improved to 13-1 at home, while UCF fell to 1-8 in true road games.

Next up, BYU visits No. 11 Kansas on Saturday in a nationally televised CBS game, while UCF hosts No. 25 Texas Tech. The rematch between these teams occurs March 2 in Orlando during the final week of regular season play.