INDIANAPOLIS -- In the championship game of the 2025 National Invitational Tournament (NIT), No. 1 seed UC Irvine was edged by Chattanooga, 85-84 in overtime, Thursday night at Butler’s Hinkle Fieldhouse.

The Anteaters conclude their 2024-25 campaign with a 32-7 record, a program record for victories. It is also the most wins a Big West team has had since the 1990-91 Final Four UNLV team went 34-1. Chattanooga finishes the season as NIT champions with a 29-9 overall record.

There were 14 lead changes and nine ties in the tightly contested title game, highlighting the competitive nature of the contest. Chattanooga raced out to an 8-0 start, its largest lead of the game, before UC Irvine responded. Devin Tillis hit a 3-pointer to cap a 15-5 run and give the Anteaters the lead at 15-13 and start the seesaw battle. The Mocs took the one-point halftime advantage, 38-37, after Trey Bonham knocked down a buzzer-beating shot from beyond half court.

UC Irvine had th lead for the majority of the second half after going ahead on the opening posession of the second half with a Tillis basket. The Anteaters grabbed their largest advantage of the game, 48-40, after a successful Myles Che free throw with 14:07 on the clock. From there, Chattanooga kept chipping away at the margin until taking the two-point lead on three made free throws with 16 seconds remaining. Che responded and made two free throws with 13 seconds left in regulation to tie the game, 76-76, and send it to overtime.  

Chattanooga edged UC Irvine 9-8 in the final stretch. A good jumper by Che put the Anteaters up by a point, 84-83, but the Mocs responded with a clutch shot from Garrison Kesslar with 11 seconds for the lead, 85-83, and account for the final score of the game.
Chattanooga’s performance was bolstered by 14 made 3-pointers out of 44 attempts. The Anteaters controlled the interior, finishing with a 44-40 edge in rebounding and outscored the Mocs 42-20 in the paint, but it was not enough to secure the win.

Tillis showcased scored a team-high 19 points, including three 3-pointers, while also grabbing eight rebounds. Bent Leuchten recorded a team-best 11 rebounds alongside 15 points. It was the 20th double-double of the season for the senior. Justin Hohn had 17 points on 7-for-15 shooting with three steals, four assists and six rebounds.