2025 College Basketball Crown: Highlights from Monday's first-round games
The first edition of the College Basketball Crown kicks off on Monday with opening-round action. The 16-team, single-elimination postseason tournament will take place from March 31 to April 6 and will air on FOX and FS1.
All four games on Monday can be seen on FS1. First up, Utah and Butler came down to the wire, with the Bulldogs emerging with an 86-84 win on a late bucket.
Next, George Washington will play against Boise State at 5:30 p.m. ET. The Broncos were on the bubble for the NCAA Tournament and just missed out after losing to Colorado State in the Mountain West Tournament championship game. The Revolutionaries (21-12) had their best season record-wise since 2016.
[Related: 10 names to know in the College Basketball Crown]
Then, Nebraska will take on Arizona State at 8:30 p.m. ET. The Cornhuskers boast one of the best players in the tournament, senior Brice Williams. The Sun Devils also have a senior, guard Alston Mason, leading the way.
The nightcap pits Georgetown against Washington State at 11 p.m. ET. Head coach Ed Cooley led the Hoyas to a winning record this season after they went 9-23 the year before. The Cougars finished in sixth place in their first season in the West Coast Conference.
Here are Monday's highlights! Butler comes away with 86-84 nail-biting win over Utah
It was a back-and-forth game all day that came down to the final minutes. Pierre Brooks II took it right to the hole with 3.2 seconds left, giving Butler an 86-84 lead. Utah had one more chance but couldn't connect on the running attempt. Brooks was the hero of the day for the Bulldogs, totaling 22 points on 8-of-14 shooting, including a 4-of-8 day from behind the arc.
Related Stories: The FOX Sports broadcast team's picks for this year's Crown
$500K NIL endorsement opportunity makes The Crown a game-changer
A guide to all 16 teams in The Crown
What is The Crown? Everything to know about the new tournament
The complete schedule for The Crown and how to watch each round
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