This Saturday in men’s college basketball showcased a thrilling set of ranked matchups, as teams continued to vie for position in their respective conferences as the 2025 season progresses.
Duke (14-2, 6-0 ACC) maintained its undefeated status in conference play with an 86-78 victory over Notre Dame (7-9, 1-4 ACC). Freshman sensation Cooper Flagg made waves in the game, scoring a record-setting 42 points, the highest ever for a Duke and ACC freshman. Flagg’s strong performance included seven assists and six rebounds, making him only the second Duke player since Jon Scheyer in 2009 to achieve over 35 points, along with 5 rebounds and 5 assists in a single outing.
Meanwhile, No. 3 Iowa State (14-1, 4-0 Big 12) continued its impressive run with a narrow 85-84 overtime win against Texas Tech. Joshua Jefferson’s late-game heroics culminated in two crucial free throws with just 4.1 seconds left to clinch the game. Curtis Jones led Iowa State with 26 points, while Texas Tech’s JT Toppin contributed 18 points in a closely contested match.
Southern California (10-6, 2-3 Big Ten) also made headlines with a solid 82-72 road win over No. 13 Illinois. Desmond Claude excelled as he led all scorers with 31 points, showcasing his versatility in attacking the rim. This victory highlights USC’s continued growth under first-year head coach Eric Musselman.
No. 2 Auburn (15-1, 3-0 SEC) narrowly escaped a potential upset against South Carolina, winning 66-63. The Gamecocks missed crucial free throws in the closing seconds that could have shifted the outcome, while Auburn’s Johni Broome, a frontrunner for National Player of the Year, left the game early with an ankle injury, raising concerns for the team moving forward.
In a notable upset, Georgia (14-2, 2-1 SEC) triumphed over No. 17 Oklahoma (13-3, 0-3 SEC) with a score of 72-62, marking their second consecutive ranked victory—an accomplishment not seen at the program since the 2002 season. The Bulldogs leveraged their free throw shooting in the second half, capitalizing on Oklahoma’s foul troubles to pull away.
As the season unfolds, these results not only highlight the unpredictable nature of college basketball but also set the stage for exciting future matchups as teams push for favorable standings in their conferences. The impressive performances of young talent, such as Duke’s Flagg and the resilience demonstrated by teams like Iowa State, signal promising developments in the world of college hoops as they target success in March Madness.