West Virginia Mountaineers Capture Crown Championship in Las Vegas

WVU basketball team wins second annual tournament featuring power conference teams that narrowly missed the NCAA Tournament.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 2:35am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The West Virginia Mountaineers men's basketball team capped off their 2025-26 season by winning the second annual Crown Championship tournament in Las Vegas. The Mountaineers defeated Stanford, Creighton, and Oklahoma to claim the title, with senior Honor Huff earning MVP honors after a dominant performance in the final game.

Why it matters

While not an NCAA championship, the Crown Championship provides an opportunity for teams that narrowly missed the Big Dance to compete for a title and end their seasons on a high note. For West Virginia, the victory serves as a morale boost and a chance to send their seniors out as champions after a challenging regular season.

The details

In the championship game, Huff scored 38 points, going 8-for-15 from 3-point range and a perfect 12-for-12 from the free throw line. Fellow senior Chance Moore added 19 points and 10 rebounds to help the Mountaineers defeat Oklahoma 89-82 in overtime. West Virginia also picked up wins over Stanford and Creighton earlier in the tournament.

  • The Crown Championship tournament took place in Las Vegas from April 1-6, 2026.
  • The Mountaineers won the tournament championship on April 6, 2026.

The players

Honor Huff

A senior guard for the West Virginia Mountaineers who was named the Crown Championship MVP after his dominant performance in the final game.

Chance Moore

A senior forward for the West Virginia Mountaineers who contributed 19 points and 10 rebounds in the championship game.

Ross Hodge

The head coach of the West Virginia Mountaineers, who led the team to the Crown Championship title in his first season with the program.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“This is a great way to end the season and send our seniors out as champions. I'm proud of the way our team competed and battled through adversity all year long.”

— Ross Hodge, Head Coach, West Virginia Mountaineers

“It feels amazing to go out on top and bring this trophy back to Morgantown. This team has been through a lot, and I'm grateful we could finish the year with a championship.”

— Honor Huff, Senior Guard, West Virginia Mountaineers

What’s next

The West Virginia Mountaineers will now turn their attention to the 2026-27 season, where they will look to build on their Crown Championship victory and make a push for the NCAA Tournament.

The takeaway

The Crown Championship provides a meaningful end-of-season tournament for teams that narrowly missed the NCAA Tournament, allowing them to compete for a title and send their seniors out on a high note. West Virginia's victory is a testament to the resilience and talent of the Mountaineers program, and a promising sign for the team's future under coach Ross Hodge.