Mary Washington Claims Thrilling First National Championship

In an incredibly dramatic finish, Division III Mary Washington clinched its first national championship. Colin Mitchell made a putback layup just as the buzzer sounded, sealing a 75-73 victory over Emory and marking a historic moment for the men’s basketball program.

A standout moment came when Kai Robinson unexpectedly missed a shot from the side of the basket. Somehow, Mitchell managed to be in the right spot to grab the rebound and score, effectively winning the game for his team.

“We believed Kai would come to the spot,” Mitchell recalled regarding that pivotal moment. “And he got there and hit a good shot. Right place, right time.”

This victory concluded a season where Mary Washington posted an impressive 30-3 record, establishing a new benchmark for the program. It’s also the school’s first national championship in any sport since 1991, when the women’s tennis team took home the NCAA title. This time around, the men’s program celebrated its inaugural national title.

The title game was already highly anticipated, and just before Mitchell’s buzzer-beater, it seemed like Emory might force overtime. Ethan Faus had tied the game with a three-pointer with only 12 seconds remaining, paving the way for Robinson to initiate the fateful winning play.

Reflecting on the game, Robinson expressed some of his frustrations, saying, “I feel like I didn’t hit as many easy shots as I could have. I was being hard on myself, and once I felt my leg buckle a bit, I thought, ‘Oh, I’ve got to get up.’ Definitely the best missed shot of my life.”

Robinson’s extraordinary performance earned him the title of Most Valuable Player for the tournament. He finished the championship game with 27 points, eight rebounds, four assists, and four steals, contributing significantly to the team’s historic victory.