The Longhorns will face No. 3 seed Gonzaga in the second round of the tournament.
AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas Longhorns are still dancing.
The No. 11 seed Longhorns advanced in the 2026 NCAA Tournament, knocking off No. 6 seed BYU 79-71 in Portland, Oregon, on Thursday night.
The Longhorns entered the game having already won a game at the tournament, defeating fellow No. 11 seed North Carolina State in a thriller, 68-66, in Dayton, Ohio, on Tuesday night.
BYU entered the game, and the tournament, with high expectations, boasting a roster that includes top NBA draft prospect AJ Dybantsa. On Thursday night, Dybantsa showcased why he’s in the top overall pick discussion, as the freshman forward finished with 35 points to be the game’s leading scorer.
Ultimately though, Dybantsa’s efforts weren’t enough, as the Longhorns carried the momentum from Tuesday night into Thursday. Matas Vokietaitis led the Longhorns with a double double, finishing with 23 points and an impressive 16 rebounds.
With the win, the Longhorns will now face No. 3 seed Gonzaga after the Washington-based team defeated No. 14 seed Kennesaw State on Thursday. Gonzaga entered the tournament having won the West Coast Conference, and is viewed by many as a team that could contend for a possible Final Four berth.