In March Madness, BYU gets a stop, then gets to go … to Sweet 16 with 91-89 win over Wisconsin

DENVER (AP) — For one night only, let’s just call them BY-Whew!

The BYU Cougars led the entire game Saturday but still had to make one, final defensive stop against Wisconsin’s irrepressible guard, John Tonje, to seal a 91-89 victory over the Badgers and the program’s first trip to the Sweet 16 since 2011 — the days of Jimmer Fredette.

In a much-welcomed and rare March Madness nailbiter, Tonje finished with 37 points to become the first player to crack 30 this year in the tournament.

That included eight points during a desperate comeback down the stretch. But trailing by two, he shot a fadeaway airball just before the buzzer that allowed the Cougars to escape.