Game of the Night: Pomona-Pitzer at the buzzer

More news about: Pomona-Pitzer
Mar 07, 2020
The Pomona-Pitzer pandemonium.
Pomona-Pitzer athletics photo by Aaron Gray
 

When Jack Boyle got the lobbed inbounds pass with 2.2 seconds left, he had hit just one of his six 3-point attempts on the night.

But that didn't matter. He pump-faked to let Nick Stuck fly past him, then let it fly over the outstretched wingspan of Lawrence Rowley.

The buzzer sounded.

The ball hit nothing but the bottom of the net.

And the bench emptied itself of Sagehens as Pomona-Pitzer celebrated a 71-70 win at Emory.

It's the first trip to the Sweet 16 in the history of the Pomona-Pitzer men's basketball program.

Trailing by eight midway through the second half after Romin Williams made a 3-pointer with 10:14 to go, the Sagehens (24-5) began to chip their way back into it. Alex Preston made the next five points for Pomona-Pitzer with two free throws and a shot from downtown, helping close in the Eagles with 9:13 left on the clock. The two teams traded shots for the next three minutes but the Sagehens began to mount their comeback. Micah Elan hit a jumper with 5:43 left in the game, making it 62-58 in favor of the Eagles. Emory missed a three-point attempt and Jack Boyle capitalized, fighting through the paint for two to make it 62-60 with 5:10 left in the half. Then, 45 seconds later, Adam Rees knotted the game at 62-62 with 4:25 left to go, setting the stage for a battle to the finish.

But the Eagles (22-5) were able to get enough offense to keep Pomona-Pitzer at bay. Until, that is, Micah Elan hit a jumper with 26 seconds left to tie it up again at 68. Matthew Schner followed his own miss with a tip-in with 2.8 seconds left to retake the lead for Emory. After the teams traded timeouts, Pomona-Pitzer got an inbounds into the frontcourt that only took .6 seconds off the clock. Following another timeout, Elan found Boyle on the opposite side of the court, and the buzzer beater bedlam ensued.

Micah Elan led the offense with 20 points while Alex Preston recorded 15 points and seven rebounds. Adam Rees had 14 points and 12 rebounds to record a double-double and Jack Boyle ended the night 14 points and the three-pointer to seal the victory.

Pomona-Pitzer will face Elmhurst in the Sweet 16 at a site to be announced on Sunday.