The 2024-25 college basketball season was extremely entertaining, featuring big name stars, tremendous teams, and countless games that we’ll remember for years.
Here’s our list of the top games from last season, taking into account high-level performances, memorable plays, and the stakes of the game.
Top 10 Best Men’s College Basketball Games From the 2024-25 Season
10) Chattanooga Mocs vs. UC Irvine Anteaters (April 3, 2025)
The NIT is generally viewed as less than compared to the NCAA Tournament, but that couldn’t have appeared any different with how hard the Mocs and Anteaters competed to win this game throughout regulation and overtime.
With 2.7 seconds left in the extra session, Chattanooga appeared to have it sealed away while holding a one-point lead with two free throws upcoming. Both were missed, giving UC Irvine a chance to launch a pass down the court and get a shot off.
They managed to get a wide-open layup — that barely made it to the rim, falling short as agony washed over the Anteaters at the same time relief flooded the Mocs’ faces as they sealed an 85-84 victory and the NIT championship.
9) Auburn Tigers vs. Tennessee Volunteers (Jan. 25, 2025)
This game, featuring the No. 1-ranked Tigers hosting the No. 6-ranked Volunteers, was a highly entertaining and highly competitive defensive battle. At halftime, the score was 22-20, Auburn up.
NO. 1 AUBURN BEATS NO. 6 TENNESSEE IN A THRILLER! THE JUNGLE ERUPTS. 🤯😮 pic.twitter.com/U5sK0gftRC
— Vince Wolfram (@vincewolfram15) January 26, 2025
Neither team led by more than six points the entire game as the Tigers’ Miles Kelly drilled a three-pointer in the final minute to take the lead at 53-51. A missed shot by Tennessee’s Zakai Ziegler sent the ball into a frenzy as the final seconds ticked off — prompting the Auburn fans to storm the court in celebration.
8) Auburn Tigers vs. Alabama Crimson Tide (March 8, 2025)
The final game of the regular season for both teams was an absolute doozy of a rematch between two of the top teams in the nation. Auburn and Alabama, ranked No. 1 and No. 7, respectively, had already matched up three weeks prior in a high-scoring Tigers victory on the Crimson Tide’s home floor.
Now, it was Alabama’s time to return the favor. As advertised, the game was closely-contested throughout as the in-state rivals traded blows, pushing the game to overtime.
With the game tied at 91, Crimson Tide star guard Mark Sears had the ball in his hands — a scary sight for the opponent late in the game. A fake hand-off, quick first step and a turn of the corner to his left hand preceded a game-winning floater at the buzzer, giving Alabama a 93-91 victory.
7) Florida Gators vs. Houston Cougars (April 7, 2025)
While Houston and Florida meeting in the NCAA Championship game wasn’t necessarily the most anticipated matchup, as Auburn and Duke had been ranked No. 1 and No. 2 for a majority of the season, the two teams gave us a title game to remember.
The Cougars led by three points at halftime and pushed the lead to 12 just five minutes into the half — gut-check time for the Gators. And they responded, as Florida star guard Walter Clayton Jr. came alive, scoring 10 of his 11 points on the night in the final 15 minutes in leading a 65-63 comeback victory for the championship.
6) St. John’s Red Storm vs. Marquette Golden Eagles (March 8, 2025)
Played on the last day of the regular season, these two Big East rivals were neck-and-neck until the final buzzer. The stars on each squad made this duel even better: St John’s R.J. Luis Jr.’s 28-point, 11-rebound effort against Marquette’s Kam Jones’ 32-point, nine-rebound, seven-assist near triple-double.
But it was Big East Most Improved Player Zuby Ejiofor who made the biggest play of the night. Off of a scrum in the final seconds of overtime, he received a quick pass near the hoop and softly swished in a floater as the buzzer sounded, putting the finishing touches on an 86-84 Red Storm victory and stunning the Golden Eagles’ home crowd.
5) Kansas Jayhawks vs. Houston Cougars (Jan. 25, 2025)
Though this game didn’t end on a buzzer-beater, it almost went down as a routine overtime win for the Jayhawks. That was until the Cougars caught fire in the final eight seconds of the first overtime, managing to erase a six-point deficit with a deep Emanuel Sharp trey-ball followed by a Mylik Wilson triple of his won.
It was an improbable comeback in the final seconds that proved to be too much for Kansas, as they were outscored 13-7 in the second overtime period. The win kept the Cougars undefeated in Big 12 play and was just the beginning of the Jayhawks’ dysfunctional finish to the season.
4) Memphis Tigers vs. UConn Huskies (Nov. 25, 2024)
The Maui Invitational routinely delivers classic games and this matchup between the Tigers and Huskies was no different. Tied at halftime, Memphis had jumped out to a 13-point lead with just four minutes left. Then, madness ensued.
A three-pointer by UConn’s Alex Karaban and two triples by Liam McNeely pulled the Huskies closer. A couple free throws and Memphis turnovers later, and UConn’s Solo Ball nailed a shot from beyond the arc to send the game to overtime.
Back-and-forth the teams went in the extra session before Memphis pulled away in the final minute, the comeback proving to take too much effort out of the Huskies.
3) Texas Tech Red Raiders vs. Arkansas Razorbacks (March 27, 2025)
The NCAA Tournament didn’t produce as many memorable games as in years past — but this one was certainly one fans won’t forget. It looked to be chalked up as a Razorbacks win, as they held a 16-point lead with just under 10 minutes left.
Then, the Red Raiders ratcheted up the energy and shot-making, coming all the way back and tying the game thanks to a Darrion Williams three-pointer with nine seconds left.
Overtime came down to the final possession as well. Williams bullied his defender in the post, scoring a layup to put Texas Tech up 85-83 with seven seconds remaining.
Arkansas coach John Calipari didn’t call a timeout, instead opting for his point guard — D.J. Wagner — to get the best possible shot. He missed a step-back tying jumper at the buzzer, allowing the Red Raiders a berth in the Elite Eight after a furious comeback.
2) Baylor Bears vs. St. John’s Red Storm (Nov. 21, 2024)
Taking place at the Baha Mar Hoops Tournament in the Bahamas, these two teams put together a non-conference thriller. St. John’s led by 14 points at halftime before the Bears stormed back in the second half, tying it at 77 as the first overtime tipped off.
They stayed knotted as a second overtime was needed. The Red Storm dominated the start of double overtime, holding a five-point lead with 18 seconds left. A V.J. Edgecombe triple brought the Bears closer before two missed free throws by Ejiofor.
Operating with just four seconds, Baylor’s Jeremy Roach rushed the ball up the court and launched a pull-up 3-pointer for the win. The shot swished through the net, and his Bears teammates bombarded him.
1) Houston Cougars vs. Duke Blue Devils (April 5, 2025)
The entire nation was tuning in as the Blue Devils looked to have booked their ticket to the national title game. Holding a nine-point lead with just over two minutes left, it seemed like a mere formality. When the Cougars cut it down to a six-point Duke lead with under a minute left, it still looked to be already decided.
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But Houston kept pushing, turning the Blue Devils over and playing tough defense on a must-stop possession. Before they knew it, they’d taken a one-point lead after two free throws were awarded to them after a Cooper Flagg loose-ball foul.
Flagg missed a jumper on the next possession, and the Cougars could taste it. L.J. Cryer knocked down two free throws with little time remaining, completing an incredible comeback on the biggest of stages.
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