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3w ago

UCF Advances to Championship After Darius Johnson's Heroic 42 Points in Overtime Win

The Knights defeat Villanova 104-98 in a thrilling semifinal and will face Nebraska in the College Basketball Crown Tournament final with a $300,000 NIL payout on the line.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - APRIL 05: Darius Johnson #3 of the UCF Knights drives against Jordan Longino #15 of the Villanova Wildcats in the first half of a semifinal game of the College Basketball Crown tournament at T-Mobile Arena on April 05, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ian Maule/Getty Images)

Overview

  • Darius Johnson scored a career-high 42 points, including 23 in the second half and overtime, to lead UCF to victory over Villanova in the semifinal.
  • UCF secured a 104-98 overtime win and will compete against Nebraska in the championship game on April 6, 2025, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
  • The tournament offers significant NIL payouts, with $300,000 awarded to the winner and $100,000 to the runner-up.
  • Villanova's Wooga Poplar and Eric Dixon delivered strong performances, scoring 32 and 29 points respectively, in their season-ending loss.
  • Villanova transitions to new head coach Kevin Willard following the semifinal exit, marking a new chapter for the program after three challenging seasons.