BYU storms back from 25 down to shock Iona

DAYTON, Ohio -- With his team in the midst of the biggest comeback in NCAA Tournament history, Brigham Young coach Dave Rose caught the look in his players' eyes and was reassured.

A rally for the ages was in the making.

Noah Hartsock scored 16 of his 23 points in the second half, and the Cougars rallied from 25 points down to beat Iona 78-72 in the first round Tuesday night.

During a timeout after the Cougars had pared the lead to single digits midway through the second half, Rose saw something he'll never forget.

"The look in our players' eyes at that time was, 'Game on. We've got a chance here,' " Rose said. "And we were able to finish it off."

Brandon Davies added 18 points and Damarcus Harrison 12 for the 14th-seeded Cougars (26-8), who advanced to play third-seeded Marquette on Thursday in Louisville, Ky.

It marked the biggest comeback in an NCAA Tournament game, the organization said. Previously, the largest deficit overcome was 22 points in 2001 when Duke rallied to beat Maryland 95-84 in the national semifinals.

"It's going to be one that we have to live with the rest of our lives," Gaels coach Tim Cluess said. "It's a tough one we let get away. No excuses."

Iona (25-8) seemed assured of its first NCAA Tournament victory after dominating the first half. But despite 15 points and 10 assists by Scott Machado, the Gaels dropped to 0-8 in NCAA play.

"We just were more aggressive," Cougars guard Brock Zylstra said. "We were doing to them what they were doing to us in the first half."

SOUTH REGION

n Western Kentucky 59, Mississippi Valley State 58 -- The only team with a losing record in the NCAA Tournament got it started with a classic March comeback. In front of a presidential audience, no less.

T.J. Price's three-point play with 33 seconds left completed a furious rally from a 16-point deficit, and Western Kentucky held on for a victory over Mississippi Valley State (21-13).

President Barack Obama and British Prime Minister David Cameron had front-row seats to see the tournament open with a ragged game that had an engrossing finish.

The Hilltoppers (16-18), the longest of long shots, will play Kentucky in the second round. They turned up the full-court pressure in the final five minutes, overcoming a 16-point deficit with a comeback that won over the crowd at University of Dayton Arena.