Mary Washington Wins First Title on Last-Second Shot

The University of Mary Washington Eagles had one last chance to win their first national championship, and forward Colin Mitchell made sure they didn't waste it.

With seconds left in the Division III national championship game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, guard Kye Robinson drove for a contested fallaway shot as he tumbled out of bounds. The shot clanged off the rim, but Mitchell grabbed the rebound and tipped it in as the buzzer sounded.

The Eagles erupted in celebration after defeating Emory in a game that swung back and forth all night. Just 12 seconds earlier, Emory had tied the score on a three-pointer from Ethan Fauss, setting up the dramatic finish.

"We trusted Kye to get to the spot," Mitchell said after the game. "And he got there and shot a good shot. Right place, right time."

Robinson led all scorers with 27 points, admitting later that his final shot wasn't ideal. "I feel like I was making it kind of hard on myself," he said. "Definitely the best missed shot of my life."

The game featured multiple momentum shifts, with Emory jumping out to an eight-point lead early in the second half. Mary Washington responded with a 14-2 run to claw back into contention and set up the thrilling finish.

Why This Inspires

This victory carries extra meaning for Mary Washington. The Eagles lost to Emory in last year's tournament, then knocked off defending champion Trinity in the semifinals before finally breaking through against the team that beat them.

The win gave Mary Washington 30 victories for the season, a program record. After years of building toward this moment, the Eagles finally captured the championship that had eluded them.

Robinson finished with eight rebounds, four assists, and four steals in the title game. Teammates Jay Randall and Kaden Bates added 14 and 10 points respectively.

For Emory, Fauss and Jair Knight each scored 24 points in the losing effort. Ben Pearce, Emory's all-time leading scorer who recently eclipsed 2,000 career points, struggled until hitting a late three-pointer with 90 seconds remaining.

Sometimes the difference between heartbreak and history is one lucky bounce at exactly the right moment.