See what college basketball could be like. Odd numbers, strange twists and turns, strange events. It can all happen overnight. For example, Wednesday evening.
One night, 12 games, and that’s why this sport is so attractive, because you never know what’s going to happen next.
It was the night North Carolina’s Paul McNeil Jr. went ballistic. He had scored just 20 points in the previous four games, then turned into Steph Curry, making 11 of 17 shots from 3-point range and scoring 47 points in a 108-72 victory over Texas Southern. He also made all 12 free throws. It was the most points in a game by an ACC player in nearly 35 years and tied for most 3-pointers made. And he did it in 27 minutes, making just one shot that didn’t go beyond the arc.
DESERVED 👏 pic.twitter.com/rpW9g0MCUX
— NC State Men’s Basketball (@PackMensBball) December 18, 2025
It was Braden Huff’s stat night for Gonzaga – 26 points and all 12 shots. Wait a minute, that was the first half against Campbell. He finished 16 for 18 with 37 points in a 98-70 victory.
On the night, Vanderbilt shot just 32 percent from the field, committed 20 turnovers and went undefeated. The Commodores overcame that lethargy to beat Memphis 77-70 in overtime, posting their lowest shooting percentage in 11 years. The game was no one’s artistic idea – 43 field goals and 40 field goals.
It was a night where the recent past didn’t matter when Creighton visited Xavier. Creighton lost four of six; Javier won five in a row. So? The Blue Jays came out and crushed the Musketeers 98-57, Xavier’s worst home loss in Cintas Center history. Creighton had 31 assists on 38 baskets.
It was a night when the bench was silent during the South Alabama-ULM game. South Alabama won 96-92 in double overtime and came away with a 20-point lead. Starters on both teams accounted for all but seven of those 188 points. That included South Alabama guard Chase Harris making 38, all without a single 3-pointer on an NAIA pass. In fact, he hasn’t done one all season. He only made eight attempts.
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The two neighbors had an awkward meeting in Charleston that night. College of Charleston and The Citadel are nearly two miles apart, and Charleston won the rivalry for the 14th time, 82-78. Citadel had to be a little upset. The margin in free throw attempts was 41-10.
It was a night that would almost certainly go down in history in Longwood. The Lancers enter 1-56 all-time against college basketball’s power-five league. Any win would have been great, and Longwood was tied with Wake Forest in the final moments. Unfortunately, Myles Colvin’s 3-pointer with 49 seconds left ended the story.
It was a night where Seattle kept the good times going. A free throw with two seconds left gave the Redhawks a 79-78 win over UC Davis and improved their record to 9-2. It’s the best start since 1968 for the program, which made one national championship appearance in 1958.
On the night, Colorado went 10-1 with an 84-73 victory at Portland State before a crowd of 111. Two and a half hours before Colorado State, Boulder announced it would close the game to the public due to high winds, power outages and dangerous road conditions. Only friends and family. “More like a fight than a basketball game,” Colorado coach Thad Boyle said. It was like playing back in time to the plague days.
It was a tough night for sledding in Oregon. Five years ago, the Beavers were in the Elite Eight and had a phone game with Houston to reach the Final Four. They are now 6-6 with losses to Evansville, Iona, Massachusetts, California Baptist and Wednesday night at Sam Houston.
POWER RANKING: Gonzaga ranks in top 10 of latest men’s basketball Power 37 rankings
It was a night when boxing scores meant nothing to Robert Morris. The Colonials shot just 42 percent and Youngstown State shot 58 percent. Anyway, Robert Morris won 80-77 in overtime.
And Florida-St. Francis’ most talked about basket of the night made it 102-59 with 42 seconds left. It belonged to the Gators’ 7-foot-9 Olivier Rioux. With the dunk, he became the highest scorer in college basketball.
An unusual December night for college basketball. Or was it just business as usual?
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