Stage set for memorable championship game at inaugural College Basketball Crown

LAS VEGAS — The chants reverberated around T-Mobile Arena on Saturday afternoon as Nebraska, which failed to even qualify for the Big Ten Tournament, moved within a game of winning an improbable postseason title. "Go Big Red! Go Big Red!" the Cornhuskers' faithful shouted as forward Cale Jacobsen dribbled out the clock on his team's final offensive possession.

No team has enjoyed as much support during the inaugural College Basketball Crown as Nebraska, whose fans flocked to Las Vegas with impressive vigor, peppering the stands at both venues throughout the week. And as the waning seconds of a 79-69 victory over Boise State melted away, nudging the Cornhuskers into Sunday's championship game, the folks backing head coach Fred Hoiberg's squad climbed to their feet and roared with delight.  

"It's probably one of the best offensive games we've had in a long, long time," small forward Juwan Gary said. "And it carries on for sure. We're just going to carry this over and try to get a championship."

Gary and his teammates spent the next few hours watching and waiting and contemplating the second semifinal featuring Villanova and UCF, a game that would determine the only team standing between Nebraska and the program's first postseason title since winning the NIT in 1996, which remains the only national tournament the Cornhuskers have ever won.

What they saw was a jaw-dropping performance from UCF point guard Darius Johnson, who poured in a career-high 42 points to upend the Wildcats in an overtime showcase that ended 104-98 in favor of the Knights. Johnson's clutch 3-pointer with nine seconds left in regulation tied the game and forced the extra session, at which point he single-handedly matched Villanova by scoring 10 points