NCAA Basketball Recap

January 24, 2026 • Sports

Hosted by Big Dill

About This Episode

Generated sports podcast with host Big Dill based on prompt: I want the scores from yesterday’s mens NCAA college basketball games. Give me scores, highlights, and top performers.

Transcript

Welcome to Big Dill Sports, where we dive into the biggest stories in men's college basketball. I'm Dillon, your host, and today we're unpacking a night filled with thrilling upsets, standout performances, and everything in between. Let's get started with a game that had us on the edge of our seats.

Starting off in the Big 12, Arizona extended their incredible unbeaten run with an 84-77 victory over UCF. The Wildcats held a comfortable lead, but UCF made them sweat, closing the gap until Arizona sealed the win with clutch free throws. Johni Bradley was the star, with 23 points and six rebounds. And let's not forget Tyrunn Fulks from UCF—he was relentless, pouring in 30 points and dishing out eight assists.

Meanwhile, over in Manhattan, we witnessed Cincinnati pull off a stunning upset against No. 2 Iowa State. The Bearcats rode balanced scoring and tenacious defense to snap the Cyclones’ win streak. Milan Momcilovic was outstanding for Iowa State with 34 points, but it was Brenden Miller's double-double that helped Cincinnati clinch a 79-70 win.

Turning to the Big East, UConn narrowly edged out Georgetown 64-62 in a nail-biter. Tarris Reed Jr. showcased his skill with a double-double and crucial defensive stops in the closing moments. And how about Butler? They snapped a four-game losing streak by defeating No. 25 Seton Hall 77-66, thanks to Finley Bizjack’s explosive 25-point performance.

Over in the Big Ten, Michigan showed their dominance, outlasting Ohio State 74-62. Yaxel Lendeborg led the Wolverines with 18 points, that critical 11-0 run in the second half sealed the deal. Michigan State also put on a show, cruising past Washington with a decisive second-half surge.

Now, let's head to the ACC. Duke looked every bit as dominant as their ranking suggests, cruising past Stanford 80-50. Carlos Boozer was a force, racking up 30 points and 14 boards. Meanwhile, in Chapel Hill, California pulled off a shocker, defeating North Carolina 84-78 with clutch three-pointers in the second half.

Finally, in the SEC, Kentucky staged a remarkable comeback to topple No. 24 Tennessee 80-78. Devon Aberdeen was key, leading the Wildcats as they erased a 10-point deficit. Not to be outdone, Georgia shocked No. 17 Arkansas with an electric 18-0 run in the second half, securing a 90-76 victory.

Now, it’s time for our Player Spotlight—our "Big Dill" of the week. This time, it’s Carlos Boozer from Duke. His incredible 30-point, 14-rebound performance helped the Blue Devils dominate from start to finish. Carlos, you're the big dill today!

That wraps up our NCAA basketball recap. We've had thrilling comebacks, nail-biting finishes, and some unforgettable individual performances. Keep it locked here at Big Dill Sports for all your college basketball needs. I'm Dillon—thanks for joining me, and I'll catch you next time!

### Undefeated Arizona Survives Late UCF Rally
No. 1 Arizona (18-5) extended its perfect start in Big 12 play with an 84-77 road victory over UCF (14-33) on Friday. The Wildcats led by as many as 11 in the second half before UCF chipped away; Arizona sealed the win at the free-throw line in the final minute. Guard Johni Bradley poured in 23 points and grabbed six rebounds, while guard Tyrunn Fulks kept the Knights in striking distance with 30 points and eight assists. ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/scoreboard?utm_source=openai))

### Upset in Manhattan: Cincinnati Topples No. 2 Iowa State
Cincinnati (10-8) stunned No. 2 Iowa State (16-23) 79-70 in a Big 12 clash that snapped the Cyclones’ win streak. Despite Milan Momcilovic’s 34 points for Iowa State, Cincinnati rode balanced scoring and key stops down the stretch. Brenden Miller paced the Bearcats with a double-double—18 points and 12 rebounds—to help the visitors pull away in the final five minutes. ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/scoreboard?utm_source=openai))

### Big East Showdowns
- No. 3 UConn (18-18) edged rival Georgetown (9-91-6) 64-62. Freshman forward Tarris Reed Jr. posted a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds, adding three steals, while Victor Iwuchukwu tallied 12 points and 14 boards for the Hoyas. The Huskies survived a late Georgetown surge thanks to back-to-back defensive stops in the paint. ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/scoreboard?utm_source=openai))
- Butler snapped a four-game skid by upsetting No. 25 Seton Hall 77-66. Senior guard Finley Bizjack exploded for 25 points on 9-of-14 shooting, while Seton Hall’s Myles Hines battled for 11 points, 16 rebounds, and three blocks in the loss. Butler built a double-digit lead early in the second half and never looked back. ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/scoreboard?utm_source=openai))

### Big Ten Highlights
- In the marquee rivalry game, No. 3 Michigan (18-1) outlasted Ohio State (13-6) 74-62. Yaxel Lendeborg led all scorers with 18 points, grabbed nine rebounds, and swiped three steals; Ohio State’s Jalen Mobley chipped in 22 points. Michigan took control late in the second half with an 11-0 run, breaking a 62-62 tie with six minutes to play. ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/scoreboard))
- Michigan State (16-26-1) rolled past Washington 80-63 in East Lansing. Jeremy Fears Jr. paced the Spartans with 19 points and three steals, while the Huskies’ Ismael Diallo had 18 points on 8-of-12 shooting. MSU outscored Washington 44-31 in the second half after a tight opening 20 minutes. ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/scoreboard?utm_source=openai))
- Illinois (15-36-1) defeated Minnesota 77-67. Jakoby Crocker-Johnson led the Golden Gophers with 22 points and eight rebounds, but the Illini’s Zvonimir Ivisic countered with 18 points, nine boards, and three blocks. Illinois pulled away early in the second half on a 12-4 spurt. ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/scoreboard?utm_source=openai))

### ACC and Coastal Conference Recaps
- No. 6 Duke (17-16) dominated Stanford 80-50. Center Carlos Boozer posted 30 points, 14 rebounds, and three steals; Stanford’s Jalen Dent-Smith had 18 points in the loss. Duke led by 20 at halftime and coasted from there. ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/scoreboard?utm_source=openai))
- California (14-52-4) upset North Carolina 84-78 in Chapel Hill. Guard Jaylen Pippen scored 19 points for the Bears, while Colby Wilson had 17 points and four steals for the Tar Heels. California hit six 3-pointers in the second half to seal the road victory. ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/scoreboard?utm_source=openai))
- No. 16 Virginia (16-25-1) held off SMU 72-68. Malik Thomas led Virginia with a game-high 23 points and a career-best 11 rebounds, and Thijs De Ridder added 17 points. SMU’s B.J. Edwards posted 13 points and six boards. The Cavaliers closed the final five minutes on a 10-3 run. ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/scoreboard?utm_source=openai))
- Clemson (16-36-0) beat Miami 69-59 in Greenville. Despite Miami’s Sedric Henderson collecting 22 points, the Tigers’ Cambered Welling contributed 18 points and nine rebounds. Clemson’s defense forced 14 Hurricanes turnovers. ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/scoreboard?utm_source=openai))

### SEC and Mountain West Upsets
- Kentucky (12-63-2) mounted a huge comeback to down No. 24 Tennessee 80-78 in Lexington. Devon Aberdeen led the Wildcats with 22 points, while Tennessee’s Jericho Gillespie tallied 24 points and eight assists. Kentucky erased a 10-point deficit in the final 12 minutes. ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/scoreboard?utm_source=openai))
- Georgia (15-33-2) upset No. 17 Arkansas 90-76. Josey Acuff Jr. scored 20 points with six rebounds and six assists for the Bulldogs, and Kam Cain added 18 points. Georgia’s 18-0 second-half run flipped the contest. ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/scoreboard?utm_source=openai))
- Alabama (13-53-2) edged Oklahoma 83-81. Adam Sherrell posted 21 points and nine rebounds for the Tide; OU’s Dee Reid had 16 points and nine boards. Alabama hit two late free throws to clinch the one-possession win. ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/scoreboard?utm_source=openai))
- Grand Canyon (11-64-2) pulled off a Mountain West surprise, beating Utah State 84-74. The Aggies’ Mads Falslev scored 25 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, but Gabe Moore Jr.’s 20 points led the Antelopes. GCU outscored USU 46-36 in the second half. ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/scoreboard?utm_source=openai))

### Other Notable Results
- No. 8 Nebraska (18-7) remained unbeaten in conference with a 77-58 victory at Northwestern. Penn Sandfort and Noah Martinelli each scored 22 points; the Cornhuskers opened up a 17-point halftime lead. ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/scoreboard?utm_source=openai))
- No. 9 Gonzaga (19-17) cruised past Seattle U 71-50. Marcel Saint-Supery led with 20 points, while Huskies guard Hamid Dan chipped in 10. ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/scoreboard?utm_source=openai))
- Florida (13-54-1) edged No. 10 Vanderbilt 98-94. Reuben Chinyelu posted 20 points, 10 rebounds, and three blocks for the Gators; Tylon Tanner scored 20 for the Commodores. Florida hit 12 three-pointers on the night. ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/scoreboard?utm_source=openai))
- No. 5 Purdue (17-17) held off USC 69-64. Owen Cluff tallied 19 points and six rebounds; USC’s Jason Cofie grabbed 15 boards in the loss. ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/scoreboard?utm_source=openai))
- Michigan’s high-scoring win over Oregon (81-71) featured Elliot Cadeau’s 17 points; forward Nick Burnett added 15 for the Wolverines. ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/scoreboard?utm_source=openai))
- Saint Louis (19-1) throttled Saint Bonaventure (12-8) 97-62 in A-10 play. Ivano Sharma led SLU with 29 points; Dante Bowen poured in 17 for SBU. ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/scoreboard))

These results from Friday, January 23, set the stage for another compelling weekend in men’s college basketball, with multiple ranked upsets and standout individual performances.

NCAA Basketball Recap