Written by Luis Villalobos
Hoops Hysteria took place on January 24, 2026, during a men’s basketball game between the University of Northwestern–St. Paul Eagles and the Crown College Polars. The matchup stayed close early before Crown pulled ahead in the second half.
The first half featured constant back and forth scoring. Neither team created much space, and the pace stayed quick. When the halftime buzzer sounded, the score sat tied at 37–37, which matched the energy on the court.
Halftime turned into one of the most memorable parts of Hoops Hysteria. A free throw shooting contest started the break, with two students winning Chick-Fil-A gift cards. The highlight was when students competed in a timed challenge that included a layup, free throw, three-pointer, and half-court shot. First place earned $10,000 toward tuition, while second place earned $5,000. The crowd stayed fully engaged and the event added a lot of fun to the night since it was an insane amount of money for the students.
Once the second half began, Crown found its rhythm and started building a lead. The Polars scored consistently, while the Eagles worked to keep up but couldn’t close the gap. Crown closed out the game with an 85–73 win.
For UNW, #1, Japheth Nyamari, stood out as the Eagles’ top performer. His effort and leadership helped keep the game close during the first half.
#1, Japheth Nyamari
After the game, basketball fan, Cam Lemos, said “The game was so intense but devastating at the end because of the loss.” He talked about the halftime contests, adding, “The prizes for the halfcourt contest were awesome since it helps us out as students.” Lemos recommended attending future Hoops Hysteria events because of the fun atmosphere and student involvement.
Even though the Eagles came up short, Hoops Hysteria delivered a memorable night of basketball, entertainment, and campus energy.
