Mary Washington Wins Division III National Championship on Buzzer-Beater

Eagles defeat Emory in thrilling final seconds to claim first-ever title

Apr. 6, 2026 at 11:36am

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The University of Mary Washington men's basketball team won the Division III national championship in dramatic fashion, defeating Emory University on a last-second putback at the buzzer. Mary Washington guard Kye Robinson missed a fallaway shot, but teammate Colin Mitchell was there to grab the rebound and score the game-winning basket as time expired, capping a comeback from an eight-point deficit in the second half.

Why it matters

This victory marks the first national championship in Mary Washington's history, a significant milestone for the program. The game-winning play showcased the team's resilience and determination, overcoming a late surge by Emory to clinch the title in the final seconds.

The details

With 12 seconds remaining and Emory leading by one, Mary Washington's Kye Robinson put up a difficult shot that missed, but Mitchell was there to grab the rebound and score the game-winning basket as time expired. Earlier in the second half, Emory had built an eight-point lead, but Mary Washington responded with a 14-2 run to regain control of the game. Robinson led Mary Washington with 27 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 steals, while Emory was paced by 24 points each from Jair Knight and Ethan Fauss.

  • The national championship game was played on April 5, 2026.
  • With 12 seconds left, Emory's Ethan Fauss hit a game-tying 3-pointer to make it 72-72.
  • As time expired, Mary Washington's Colin Mitchell scored the game-winning putback basket.

The players

Kye Robinson

A guard for the Mary Washington Eagles who led the team with 27 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 steals in the championship game.

Colin Mitchell

The forward for Mary Washington who scored the game-winning putback basket as time expired to clinch the national championship.

Jair Knight

A player for the Emory Eagles who scored 24 points in the championship game.

Ethan Fauss

An Emory Eagles player who scored 24 points, including a game-tying 3-pointer with 12 seconds left.

Ben Pearce

Emory's all-time leading scorer who eclipsed 2,000 points in his career, but was held without a made shot until hitting a 3-pointer with 90 seconds left.

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What they’re saying

“We trusted Kye to get to the spot. And he got there and shot a good shot. Right place, right time.”

— Colin Mitchell, Forward, Mary Washington Eagles

“I feel like I was making it kind of hard on myself. And then once I felt my leg buckle a little bit, I was like, 'Oh, I just have to get it up.' Definitely the best missed shot of my life.”

— Kye Robinson, Guard, Mary Washington Eagles

What’s next

The Mary Washington Eagles will celebrate their first-ever national championship with a parade and rally in Fredericksburg, Virginia on April 11, 2026.

The takeaway

This thrilling Division III national championship game showcased the passion and excitement of college basketball at all levels. Mary Washington's resilience and determination to overcome a late deficit and win on a last-second play will be remembered as one of the most dramatic finishes in tournament history.