FINAL: Robinson misses a shot, but Mitchell puts it back at the buzzer. UMW IS YOUR NATIONAL CHAMPION. 75-73. Coverage to follow!
Second half, :46: Really inopportune turnover there for UMW. Emory converts the layup at the other end, and, well. Let’s watch. 72-70 UMW.
Second half, 1:06: Things are getting a bit hairy here for UMW. Pearce picked a helluva time to make his first field goal of the contest, and Emory’s shooting free throws trailing 72-68.
Second half, 2:05: Emory is officially fouling (on purpose), and we’ve reached endgame. UMW up 71-63.
Second half, timeout, 3:00:Â UMW up 69-59. We’re nearing the point in the game where the Eagles can really work that 30-second shot clock with each possession.
Second half, 3:06: UMW leads 67-59. Eagles are in the bonus, so every Emory foul from this point on will result in at least one free throw attempt.
Second half, timeout Emory, 4:40: UMW leading 63-50 following a bank shot by Robinson, who has 22 points. Eagles (and their fans) can taste it.
Second half, timeout, 5:57: UMW on a 7-0 run. Jay Randall (10 points, six rebounds) is balling tf out. Just swished a jumper from the free-throw line, and the UMW lead is nine. Marcus Kahn’s squad is 357 seconds from a national championship.
Second half, 10:30: Preston White, a freshman with a blank bio on the team website, just converted a clutch and-1 in the national championship game. Eagles up 52-48.
Second half, timeout, 11:59: They’re playing now. Robinson just took a charge, pumping both fists after drawing the offensive foul. And Jay Randall made a big-boy layup — lefty — through some traffic. UMW leads, 49-48.
Second half, timeout, 15:20: Pretty — really pretty — pump-fake from Robinson before sinking a 3-pointer to get the Eagles within three points. He’s up to 16 points. It’s 43-40, Emory, and still feels like anyone’s game. UMW with only one foul; they got into trouble early in the first half.
Second half, 17:39: Emory’s Ben Pearce, the national player of the year, crumpled to the floor with minimal contact and is limping a bit upon being helped up. But he’s staying the game. A flurry of shots falling to open the second half, and Emory leads 40-35.
While we’re still at halftime: Check out this sick shot of Robinson with a little scoop layup. Jeff is killing the game.
Kye Robinson (1) led UMW with nine points during the first half. He also pulled down six rebounds. (Photo by Jeff Kearney)
Still halftime: Here’s the full stats from the first half.
Halftime: Emory 30, UMW 28. Potentially a momentum-shifting one-handed slam by Jair Knight to end the first 20 minutes of play. Kye Robinson had nine points and six boards to lead UMW. Knight with 13 points for Emory. Both teams shooting 29 percent from the field.
First half, 2:21: Ulysses Young with a big 3-pointer to pull UMW to within one point, then Robinson gives them the lead with a finger-roll layup. Eagles (of UMW) lead 27-26. UMW has 10 fouls, so Emory will be in the double bonus the rest of the half.
First half, timeout, 8:00: Marcus Kahn wants to talk things over, and, at least from my vantage point, it doesn’t appear to be a pleasant convo. UMW sorta had blew an opportunity to grow its lead while Emory was shooting 15 percent from the field, which is not very good. Emory leading 18-17 coming out of the timeout.
First half, timeout, 11:38: Eagles (of UMW, they’re both Eagles) on a bit of a run here. Huge corner 3 from sophomore Colin Mitchell, and Jay Randall hits a suave baby hook to put UMW ahead 11-6.
First half, 15:16: Robinson already with four points and a pair of rebounds. Eagles up 4-3.
First half, timeout at 16:40: OK, so maybe some nerves all around. UMW still with a 2-0 lead, both teams with one foul.
First half, 18:17: UMW strikes first on a layup by Kye Robinson to take a 2-0 lead.
Less than 10 minutes until tip:Â Below are the starting lineups. UMW giving up a lot of height in the front court, but that’s not new.
(Still) pregame: Decent crowd here representing UMW! The school loaded up three buses, which had a waiting list full of students hoping to make the trip to Indianapolis. Fifteen minutes until tip.
Pregame: As I type this, we’re a little more than 30 minutes away from tip of the Division III national championship game at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
Check this space for frequent updates, commentary and photos as the Eagles chase the first natty in program history. This is Joey, up here in section 107. Photojournalist Jeff Kearney will be capturing the action from a little photo box taped on the baseline.
Here’s a shot of his from warm-ups:
