Mary Washington Eagles capture first national title in school history

Colin Mitchell's last-second layup seals the Division III championship win over Emory

Apr. 6, 2026 at 9:19pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the final moments of a basketball game, with sharp, overlapping planes of color representing the players and action on the court.A last-second layup clinches Mary Washington's first national championship, capping off an improbable run to the Division III title.Fredericksburg Today

The Mary Washington Eagles men's basketball team won their first national title in program history, defeating Emory University 75-73 in the Division III championship game. Colin Mitchell, a former Benedictine product, scored the game-winning layup at the buzzer to clinch the victory for the Eagles, who were seeking redemption after losing to Emory in the tournament the previous year.

Why it matters

This championship marks the first national title for any Mary Washington sports program since 1991, and the win over Emory avenges their previous tournament loss to the same opponent. The victory caps off an impressive 30-win season for the Eagles, who knocked off several ranked opponents en route to the title.

The details

In the final seconds of the game, Mary Washington's Kye Robinson missed a shot, but teammate Colin Mitchell was there to grab the offensive rebound and score the game-winning layup as time expired. Mitchell, who had nine more two-point baskets than his teammate this season, is known more for his outside shooting, but made the crucial play to secure the championship.

  • The Division III National Championship game was played on April 5, 2026.
  • Mary Washington lost to Emory in the tournament the previous year.

The players

Colin Mitchell

A former Benedictine product who played a key role in Mary Washington's championship run, scoring the game-winning layup in the final seconds.

Kye Robinson

A Mary Washington player who missed a shot in the final seconds, but whose missed attempt led to Mitchell's game-winning putback.

Marcus Kahn

The head coach of the Mary Washington Eagles, who guided the team to their first national title in program history.

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What they’re saying

“He knows how to get himself in position to score from the arc mostly. He's a smart player and knows how to make the right decisions.”

— Marcus Kahn, Head Coach, Mary Washington Eagles

“It's been a great feeling. I didn't know what to do but run. Once I got to my teammates, the dogpile happened. It's been a great experience.”

— Colin Mitchell

“Last year, they hit a shot on us at the end. It was nice to get that back.”

— Colin Mitchell

What’s next

Mary Washington will be honored at halftime of the Division I title game on Monday night before returning to Fredericksburg on Tuesday. The team is also planning an on-campus celebration later this week to commemorate the historic championship win.

The takeaway

Mary Washington's first national title in any sport since 1991 is a remarkable achievement, capping off an impressive 30-win season for the Eagles. The team's redemption over Emory, who had defeated them in the tournament the previous year, makes this championship victory all the sweeter for the players and coaches.