Denver • BYU basketball player Richie Saunders can’t go anywhere without somebody asking him about tater tots, the snack invented by his great-grandfather.
But enough with the savory.
Now Saunders and the Cougars are only thinking about the Sweet.
BYU survived Wisconsin’s rally to beat the Badgers 91-89 Saturday night and advance to the Sweet 16 for the first time in over a decade.
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Saunders led the way with 25 points and seven rebounds.
Wisconsin’s John Tonje scored a game-high 37 points, but missed a contested shot in the final seconds that could have tied the game.
Brigham Young forward Richie Saunders, left, drives past Wisconsin forward Steven Crowl during the first half in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament Saturday, March 22, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/John Leyba)
The Cougars led by 10 points with just over two minutes left on the clock. The Badgers cut the lead to two over the next 90 seconds.
BYU advances to the round of 16 for the first time since 2011, when Jimmer Fredette was still in Cougar blue.
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BYU will face the winner of Alabama and Saint Mary’s.
Saunders led the Cougars in scoring, but BYU showcased its depth throughout the contest.
Trevin Knell finished with 14 points with four triples. Egor Demin had 11, eight rebounds and eight assists. Eight different BYU players scored at least six points.
Wisconsin, meanwhile, got just three points of production from its bench.
The Badgers appeared to have a size advantage coming into the matchup. But BYU finished the game with 39 points in the paint, out-rebounded Wisconsin 41-32 and converted a dozen second-chance points.
FOND DU LAC COUNTY, Wis. – A Wisconsin state trooper arrested a Florida man for operating while intoxicated on I-41 earlier this week. If convicted, it would be the man’s fifth offense.
What they’re saying:
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The Wisconsin State Patrol spotted a speeding driver on I-41 in Fond du Lac County late Thursday night, March 27.
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A trooper pulled the vehicle over and noted the driver, a 56-year-old man from Orlando, showed signs of impairment. The trooper also noticed open intoxicants in the man’s vehicle.
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What’s next:
The driver was placed under arrest, and a search warrant was obtained for an evidentiary blood draw. The test results are still pending.
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The Source: The Wisconsin State Patrol released information for this report.
MILWUAKEE — Less than three days before polls open on Election Day, voters across Wisconsin are weighing the impact of Elon Musk’s recent involvement in the state Supreme Court race — and whether his money is motivating or meddling.
Billionaire Elon Musk, a vocal supporter of Judge Brad Schimel, plans to award $1 million each to two individuals at a rally scheduled for Sunday in Green Bay. The payments are intended for those who signed an online petition opposing what he calls “activist judges” and will speak at the rally.
He is also offering $100 to any Wisconsinite who signs the petition.
Chuck Kornowski of West Allis said he and several family members signed Musk’s petition earlier this month.
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“My wife and I both filled it out, including my son, my sister, and my brother-in-law,” he said. “It’s awesome.”
Kornowski is now waiting for his $100 check in the mail — part of Musk’s broader campaign offering money to people who sign the online petition. Kornowski said the effort is energizing voters.
“It gets people motivated,” he added. “It is a good idea, I really feel it is.”
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Chuck Kornowski
On Saturday, the Wisconsin Court of Appeals denied an emergency request by Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul to block Musk from awarding $1 million each to two voters at the rally Sunday night.
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Kaul filed the lawsuit Friday, arguing that Musk’s actions violate Wisconsin election law, which makes it a felony to offer voters anything of value in exchange for voting.
After a county judge declined to hear the case on Saturday, Kaul appealed to the state Court of Appeals, which also rejected his request.
Musk and groups he funds have now poured more than $20 million into the race, which has become the most expensive judicial election in U.S. history. According to WisPolitics, total spending has topped $90 million.
Jerrell Patterson of Milwaukee said he sees the campaign as a creative way to energize new voters.
“Get into the minds of younger people and get them to come to rallies, sign petitions, and become greater Americans — I’m definitely on board with that,” Patterson said.
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Jerrell Patterson
Not all voters feel comfortable with the billionaire’s role in the race.
“Getting people out there to vote, certainly,” said Meredith, a Milwaukee voter. “But I don’t know how I feel about a billionaire bribing people to sign petitions and paying his way into an election.”
Musk and former President Donald Trump are supporting conservative candidate Judge Brad Schimel of Waukesha County. Democrats, including George Soros, are backing Dane County Judge Susan Crawford.
“I don’t control what Elon Musk does, and I don’t control what George Soros or J.B. Pritzker do for Susan Crawford,” Schimel said at a rally Friday, pointing to the out-of-state billionaires backing his opponent.
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Petition or not, many voters said this election feels more consequential than usual.
“It’s a very high-stakes election,” Meredith added. “Not just for Wisconsin, but for the country as a whole.”
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Meredith
Control of the Wisconsin Supreme Court hangs in the balance, as a pending retirement means the court’s current 4-3 liberal majority is up for grabs.
Schimel said he would not be attending the Green Bay event with Musk. Attendance is limited to those who signed the petition.
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