1 week Ago By Cornhuskers Wire
The Nebraska men's basketball team ended the season on a high note on Sunday afternoon. The Huskers defeated the UCF Knights 77-66 to win the inaugural College Basketball Crown. Nebraska finished the season with a record of 21-14, while the Knights ended the 2024-25 campaign at 20-17.
The victory is Nebraska's first postseason championship since the Cornhuskers won the 1996 NIT. This is only the third time in school history that Nebraska has had back-to-back 20-win seasons. The win also secures $300,000 in Name Image and Likeness for the Cornhuskers.
UCF will leave Las Vegas with $100,000.Senior Juwan Gary scored 20 points and eight rebounds and was named King of the Crown (Tournament MVP). Brice Williams and Connor Essegian led Nebraska with 21 points each.
Williams passed James Palmer Jr. for the single-season scoring record (713 points). Gary and Williams were also both named to the all-tournament team.
Find social media reactions to the victory below. The kingsThe rightful kings. pic.
twitter.com/ZzLjkTwzSy— Nebraska Men's Basketball (@HuskerMBB) April 6, 2025Crown 'emCROWN 'EM 👑@HuskerMBB wins the first-ever @CBBCrown Championship 🏆 pic.twitter.
com/C6fvi9aBCK— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) April 6, 2025FinalCROWN US 👑 pic.twitter.com/cvuLP6pyig— Nebraska Men's Basketball (@HuskerMBB) April 6, 2025CrownedNEBRASKA BASKETBALL WINS THE 2025 COLLEGE BASKETBALL CROWN.
👑 🌽 pic.twitter.com/Hax5v24KhC— Blackshirts (@blvckshirts) April 6, 2025A Big Ten ChampionA CHAMPION HAS BEEN CROWNED 👑Congrats to @HuskerMBB on winning the inaugural @CBBCrown tournament 👏#B1GMBBallpic.
twitter.com/2GK7BZa3QN— Big Ten Men's Basketball (@B1GMBBall) April 6, 2025Never forget These 2 will never be forgotten by Husker Nation. Changed the culture and we’re apart of the first back to back 20 win seasons in program history.
Words can’t describe how much we will miss these 2Thank you JG and BW❤️ pic.twitter.com/Hb4f3S9ots— Barstool ‘Skers (@BarstoolHusker) April 6, 2025Rollercoaster seasonFINAL: Nebraska 77, UCF 66The Huskers win their first postseason championship since 1996.
Heck of an end to a rollercoaster season.— Robin Washut (@RobinWashut) April 6, 2025Lift the CrownNebraska lifts the @CBBCrown! 👑👏@HuskerMBBpic.twitter.
com/1R7n1MF6g2— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) April 6, 2025Photo bomb.@RaiolaDylan with the photo bomb on FOX. pic.
twitter.com/frtMeeYwBX— Sean Callahan (@Sean_Callahan) April 6, 2025MVPJuwan Gary was named the Crown championship MVP pic.twitter.
com/VXtjEheEP4— Robin Washut (@RobinWashut) April 6, 2025Radio Network Call"IF THE CROWN FITS, WEAR IT MY BOYS!"@HuskerMBB ARE CHAMPS! Top Calls • @WoodhouseAutopic.twitter.com/1N1YaDLeJz— Huskers Radio Network (@HuskersRadio) April 6, 2025VictoryNebraska Basketball is the only team in the country that has never won a tourney game and the only team in the country to ever win The Crown Championship.
#[email protected]/V74EpUSCDN— Ky (@kyleighfaye) April 6, 2025Go Big RedGO BIG RED 🗣️ pic.
twitter.com/xxgvX6acao— Nebraska Men's Basketball (@HuskerMBB) April 7, 2025NILSo happy for the senior leadership on this team, finishing their Husker careers on a high note, with a $300k NIL bonus along with the Crown. Now starting 25-26 on a 4 game win streak.
GBR https://t.co/w0Vxvn8lD1— Troy Dannen (@TroyDannen) April 7, 2025Locker roompic.twitter.
com/rh7BUPm2Fo— Huskers Talk | Nebraska Sports (@HuskersTalk) April 7, 2025Contact/Follow us @CornhuskersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Nebraska news, notes, and opinions. This article originally appeared on Cornhuskers Wire: Nebraska fans react to winning the College Basketball Crown Tournament.
