ON THIS DAY IN COLLEGE BASKETBALL
December 25.
Different years. Same date. Games worth remembering.
ON THIS DAY · December 25PAINT
Unranked. Unforgettable.
Unranked wins over ranked teams. Best rank beaten first.
| Season | Winner | Opponent | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Minnesota102 | #4 Iowa95 | At home · OT · Williams Arena · Minneapolis, MN |
| 2015 | George Washington60 | #11 Wichita State54 | Neutral site · Stan Sheriff Center · Honolulu, HI |
| 1998 | Murray State94 | #12 Arkansas83 | Neutral site |
| 1986 | NC State80 | #12 Nevada-Las Vegas73 | Neutral site |
| 2011 | Florida State68 | #15 Baylor61 | Neutral site · Stan Sheriff Center · Honolulu, HI |
| 2020 | Houston75 | #21 Washington71 | Neutral site · Stan Sheriff Center · Honolulu, HI |
ON THIS DAY · December 25PAINT
When the ranked collide
Ranked matchups, highest-ranked team first.
| Season | Winner | Opponent | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | #3 Houston76 | #10 Louisville73 | Neutral site |
| 2013 | #3 Arizona68 | #17 San Diego State67 | Neutral site · Stan Sheriff Center · Honolulu, HI |
| 2021 | #9 Wisconsin85 | #12 Michigan State76 | On the road · Breslin Center · East Lansing, MI |
| 1985 | #17 Oklahoma90 | #20 Louisville72 | Neutral site |
| 1998 | #19 Syracuse82 | #25 Texas Christian78 | Neutral site |
ON THIS DAY · December 25PAINT
Down to the wire
Ranked teams. Three points or fewer between them.
| Season | Winner | Opponent | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | #3 Arizona68 | #17 San Diego State67 | 1 pt |
| 1984 | #3 Houston76 | #10 Louisville73 | 3 pts |
ON THIS DAY · December 25PAINT
Never count them out
Largest deficits erased, measured from play-by-play. Earliest on file: 2006.
| Season | Winner | Opponent | Trailed by |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Houston75 | #21 Washington71 | Trailed by 14 |
| 2018 | #6 Miami (FL)84 | Middle Tennessee81 | Trailed by 13 |
| 2023 | Hawaii58 | Southern Methodist57 | Trailed by 12 |
| 2025 | Murray State71 | Loyola (IL)68 | Trailed by 11 |
| 2014 | #14 Iowa State70 | Boise State66 | Trailed by 11 |
ON THIS DAY · December 25PAINT
Points on points
The highest combined scores on this date.
| Season | Winner | Opponent | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Minnesota102 | #4 Iowa95 | 197 total pts |
| 1988 | #12 Oklahoma93 | Georgia90 | 183 total pts |
| 1998 | Murray State94 | #12 Arkansas83 | 177 total pts |
| 2019 | Bucknell97 | Nevada-Las Vegas72 | 169 total pts |
| 2018 | Davidson91 | Akron78 | 169 total pts |
ON THIS DAY · December 25PAINT
You had to be there
The biggest crowds, by announced attendance.
| Season | Winner | Opponent | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Creighton80 | DePaul65 | 16,534 fans |
ON THIS DAY · December 25PAINT
Big nights
The highest-scoring individual games on this date.
| Season | Player | Game | Line |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Dwain Williams | Hawaii vs. Saint Mary's | 36 pts · 1 reb · 2 ast · 4 threes |