2.8 million viewers tune in for Duke-Gonzaga in Continental Tire Challenge

Last Friday’s Duke-Gonzaga men’s college basketball game averaged 2.79 million viewers on ESPN, the largest audience for a college basketball game prior to New Year’s Day since the same matchup in the 2018 Maui Invitational final (2.85M).

Duke’s win ranks as easily the most-watched game of the young season, cruising past the previous high of 1.78 million for Duke-Kentucky in the Champions Classic. It also averaged more viewers than all-but-one NBA game so far this season, Warriors-Lakers on Opening Night (3.39M).

No. 13 Iowa State takes home Gulf Coast Showcase women’s championship

ESTERO, Florida – No. 13 Iowa State (7-0) closed out the Gulf Coast Showcase with a tough 76-71 win over UMass (7-1) to grab the Gulf Coast Showcase Championship. The win gives the 13th-ranked Cyclones an unblemished 7-0 record to start the season.

Against the Minutewomen, Iowa State was led by Ashley Joens and Lexi Donarski, who both finished with 23 points in the championship game, en route to being named to the All-Tournament team, with Joens being honored as the Tournament MVP.

Louisville tops Maryland to win Baha Mar Hoops Bahamas Championship

NASSAU, Bahamas — — Malik Williams had 13 points, 12 rebounds and four steals, Jarrod West scored seven of his nine points in the final five minutes and Louisville beat Maryland 63-55 on Saturday to win the Bahamas Championship.

West gave Louisville the lead for good at 52-49 with a long 3-pointer. He added a layup in the lane and found Williams with a nice pass to make it 58-53, and the Cardinals led by two possessions the rest of the way.

No. 5 Duke takes out No. 1 Gonzaga in a classic at the Continental Tire Challenge

LAS VEGAS — In the second half of his team’s electric 84-81 win over No. 1 Gonzaga on Friday night in front of a sold-out T-Mobile Arena crowd, Duke forward Paolo Banchero experienced a terrible case of deja vu.

His cramping issues — the same cramping issues that had interrupted his debut in a season-opening win over Kentucky — had returned and stalled him after he scored 20 of his game-high 21 points in the first half.

A record 20,389 fans witness Duke battle Gonzaga in the Continental Tire Challenge

LAS VEGAS – A record crowd of 20,389 witnessed the clash of the unbeatens between No. 1 Gonzaga and No. 5 Duke at T-Mobile Arena. The capacity crowd topped the previous mark of 20,321 set on Dec. 29, 1986 when UNLV beat a David Robinson-led Navy squad at Thomas & Mack Center. The previous basketball record for T-Mobile Arena was set on Dec. 10, 2016 when 19,107 fans saw Duke beat UNLV in the arena’s first college basketball game.

Oakland claims Gulf Coast Showcase men’s title

ESTERO, Fla. —The Oakland men’s basketball team won the Gulf Coast Showcase title game over Delaware, 81-73, on Wednesday night at Hertz Arena.

The Golden Grizzlies (5-2) went 3-0 at the tournament with victories over Vermont, Rice, and Delaware (4-2). Following the game, graduate senior Jamal Cain earned tournament MVP honors while junior point guard Jalen Moore was voted to the all-tournament team.

ETSU beats Kent State to win Naples Invitational championship

NAPLES, Fla. – From Murray State to Missouri State to Kent State.

The ETSU men’s basketball team completed the all “State” trifecta en route to capturing the inaugural Naples Invitational Championship as the Buccaneers defeated Kent State 57-51 in Wednesday’s title game from the Moe Kent Family Fieldhouse.

Arizona captures Roman Main Event championship 80-62 over Michigan

LAS VEGAS — — Christian Koloko’s mother flew from Cameroon to see her son play for Arizona for the first time. He didn’t disappoint, dominating at both ends.

His team looked pretty good, too, dominating No. 4 Michigan 80-62 Sunday night in the Roman Main Event.

Koloko finished with 22 points, seven rebounds and four blocked shots, pointing to his mother after being presented the title belt as tournament MVP.

“She doesn’t know much about basketball,” Koloko said. “I remember after the last game, she said we missed a lot goals. I was like no, we call those free throws, which was kind of funny. I’m going to go talk to her after this.”

Baylor, UCLA, Virginia & Illinois bound for ’22 Roman Main Event

LAS VEGAS – The past two NCAA Champions – Baylor and Virginia – will join UCLA and Illinois in a heavyweight, four-team field for next season’s Roman Main Event in Las Vegas. The four schools own a total of 13 NCAA Championships and 28 Final Four appearances. Tournament organizer, bdG Sports, announced the field during the Michigan-Arizona championship game today at the 2021 event.

The four powerhouse programs will descend upon Las Vegas next season with the first round on Friday, Nov. 18, 2022 at T-Mobile Arena. The championship and consolation games will be played on Sunday, Nov. 20. The annual tournament will be televised by ESPN networks and benefits Coaches vs. Cancer, an initiative spearheaded by the National Association of Basketball Coaches (www.nabc.com) and the American Cancer Society (www.cancer.org).

“This event has really matured into one of the most competitive in-season college basketball events in the sport,” said Brooks Downing, President and CEO of bdG Sports, the event owner and operator. “We are so excited to have four championship basketball programs headed to one of the best facilities in the nation in the middle of a world-class destination location.”

Baylor will be back in pursuit of a national title after signing Keyonte George, the nation’s No. 3-ranked prospect in the Class of 2022. Coach Scott Drew’s Bears won their first two games of last year’s pandemic-altered season at T-Mobile Arena in the #VegasBubble to kick-off its 2021 title run.

UCLA, currently ranked No. 2 nationally, is no stranger to Las Vegas. In addition to the Pac-12 Tournament, the Bruins are playing four games in Las Vegas in this year’s regular season (Bellarmine, Gonzaga, North Carolina and a road game at UNLV). Coach Mick Cronin has quickly re-established the program on the national stage and took the Bruins to the school’s 19th Final Four last season.

Virginia won the title in 2019, prior to the 2020 season coming to an early end due to the COVID outbreak, and should contend for another ACC title this season. Coach Tony Bennett has established the Cavaliers as an annual contender for the national title.

Illinois finished the 2020-21 season as one of the four No. 1 seeds in the NCAA Tournament. Coach Brad Underwood continues to lead the Illini’s resurgence, and the squad is ranked 10th in the country and among the favorites to win the always difficult Big Ten Tournament. .

Complete tournament information can be found at www.romanmainevent.com and on social media at @VegasMainEvent.