NCAA Division III provided top-flight drama on Sunday in the closing moments of its championship game.
Mary Washington led Emory 72-70 with under 20 seconds to play in Division III’s title game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Ind. Mary Washington forward Colin Mitchell split a pair of free throws, which kept the door open for Emory to tie the game.
Emory sharpshooter Ethan Fauss didn’t waste that chance. He grabbed the rebound, handed it off to senior guard Ben Pearce, then relocated for a right-wing triple to tie the game at 73. Mary Washington, out of timeouts, gave the ball to star guard Kye Robinson. He airballed a floater with a couple of seconds left that fell right into the hands of Mitchell for a putback layup.
BUZZER-BEATER TO WIN A NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP 😱
— ESPN (@espn) April 5, 2026
THE MARY WASHINGTON EAGLES WIN THE D-III NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP IN WILD FASHION 🤯 pic.twitter.com/1p03REKlg8
Here’s another angle capturing the full sequence, including Fauss’ game-tying three-pointer that preceded Mitchell’s game-winner.
INSANE FINISH!!
— Sam Federman (@Sam_Federman) April 5, 2026
MARY WASHINGTON WINS THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP AT THE BUZZER 75-73 ON A COLIN MITCHELL PUTBACK!
Comes right after Emory drills a game-tying three coming from down 13.
Division III. What a finish pic.twitter.com/rCKkdmLGMm
Nothing beats a buzzer-beater to decide a national championship game. Mitchell’s putback gave Mary Washington, a Virginia-based university, its first national title in program history.
Mitchell entered Sunday’s contest averaging just 3.2 points and 1.4 rebounds across 32 games. He left Gainbridge Fieldhouse as a school icon for decades to come.
UConn and Michigan better be taking notes ahead of their own Division I clash Monday for the NCAA Tournament crown.
