INDIANAPOLIS — Colin Mitchell delivered the decisive moment Sunday, scoring on a putback at the buzzer to lift Mary Washington past Emory, 75-73, and secure the program’s first Division III national championship.
The Eagles built enough of a cushion to withstand a late Emory rally, then answered in the final seconds when Mitchell converted the game-winning basket as time expired. The last-second finish sealed a two-point victory in a tightly contested title game.
A championship finish
With the win, Mary Washington closed its season at 30-3, ending the year with the Division III crown. Emory’s surge down the stretch threatened to erase the Eagles’ advantage, but Mary Washington held on long enough to create the final opportunity that led to Mitchell’s winning putback.
The championship in Indianapolis marked a milestone for the Eagles, who left the floor as first-time Division III champions after a season defined by consistency and a dramatic finish in the biggest game of the year.