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3w ago

UCF Advances to College Basketball Crown Final After Overtime Thriller Against Villanova

Darius Johnson's career-high 42 points propel UCF past Villanova, setting up a championship clash with Nebraska and a $300,000 NIL prize on the line.

UCF guard Jordan Ivy-Curry drives past a Nebraska defender during the first half of the College Basketball Crown Tournament championship game on Sunday, April 6, 2025. (Omer Kham/FOX Sports)
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 delivered a standout performance with 42 points, including a game-tying 3-pointer in regulation and 10 points in overtime, to lead UCF to a 104-98 victory over Villanova in the semifinal.
  • UCF will face Nebraska in the College Basketball Crown championship game on Sunday, with the winner earning a $300,000 NIL prize and the runner-up receiving $100,000.
  • Villanova's Wooga Poplar scored 32 points and Eric Dixon added 29, but the Wildcats fell short in overtime, concluding their season and interim coach Mike Nardi's tenure.
  • The tournament marks a transitional moment for Villanova, as the program shifts to new head coach Kevin Willard, who will take over following Kyle Neptune's departure.
  • The College Basketball Crown highlights the evolving influence of NIL incentives in college sports, combining high-stakes competition with significant financial rewards.