In a pulse-pounding thriller that came down to the final seconds, the Wesleyan men's basketball team came out on top in a 61-58 overtime win over Emory in the NCAA Elite 8 round played at Silloway Gymnasium on Saturday night. With the win, the Cardinals (30-1) continue an already historic season, advancing to the Final Four for the first time in program history.
 
Leading by 12 points with 7:14 remaining, Wesleyan had the Eagles where they want them but Emory showed true resolve, cutting into the deficit and making it a one-possession game with over three minutes remaining. Wesleyan still led by three heading into the final minute of regulation when Emory's Ben Pearce drove the lane and shouldered a heavy foul from Fritz Hauser '26, making the contested layup and hitting the free throw to tie the score. Jackson Cormier '26 got a good look off in the final ticks of regulation, but the shot hit back rim and the contest needed overtime to determine a winner.
 
After both teams scored on their first possessions of the extra session, Emory's AJ Harris drove the lane for two and Nicky Johnson '25 pulled up for his fourth three-point make of the game, both defenses took over as neither side scored until the closing seconds. Nine straight possessions with no points saw the game come down to the end where Emory secured a rebound and chose to hold for a late shot with the shot clock off.
 
Pearce drove the lane and dished to Jair Knight for an open three that hit back rim. Logan Shanahan made a diving play out of bounds to secure the offensive rebound for Knight who saw his layup blocked by Fritz Hauser '26. The loose ball again fell into the hands of an Emory player with Mario Awasum seeing his putback attempt hit iron and this time, Shane Regan '25 secured the rebound who was quickly fouled.
 
Emory, who was not in the bonus when Regan was fouled, was forced to foul Johnson after an inbounds play with 1.6 seconds left. The senior stepped to the line and made the front end of the one-and-one followed by another to make it a three-point game. Emory then skied an inbounds pass right in front of their bench which was secured by Awasum, followed by a quick timeout so the Eagles could set up a catch-and-shoot play with 0.8 seconds left.
 
Coming out of the timeout, it was Knight who got a 30-foot three that just hit off the front rim and out as the Cardinals all went to celebrate in front of the Wesleyan men's lacrosse team in the far stands.
 
The thrilling end capped what was a defensive slugfest as Wesleyan, who's defense has ranked Top 10 nationally all throughout the season, played true to their style throughout in holding an Emory team that came in averaging north of 85 points per game to their worst offensive game of the season. The Cardinals held the Eagles to a season-low point total, fewest made baskets (23), lowest field goal percentage (.319), and worst three-point percentage (.154) in any game this season.
 
Wesleyan jumped out to an 8-0 lead just 3:18 into play in this one and continued to hold off the Eagles, heading into halftime with a 28-23 lead. Johnson was the engine for the Cardinals on offense, scoring 16 of Wesleyan's 28 points as the senior went 6-of-8 from the floor and 2-for-4 from three in the first half.
 
The Cardinals stretched their advantage to double figures with back-to-back three's from Johnson and Hauser that made it 38-27 Wesleyan. Cormier then finished in the lane to hand the Cardinals their largest lead of the game at 40-27. Emory did not go away, keeping the game within reach until Wesleyan went up 52-40 with 7:14 remaining and the home crowd hitting a fever pitch.
 
That 12-point lead, however, all but disappeared as Emory held the Cardinals to just four points in the final 7:14 of regulation, setting up the dramatic three-point play from Pearce that sent the game into overtime.
 
Johnson led the Cardinals with 24 points (4-9 3FG) with five steals in 42 minutes while Regan joined him in double figures with 18 points. Cormier finished with six points, nine rebounds, and three assists while Hauser had three points, five rebounds, four assists, and two blocks including the crucial one late on Knight's drive at the end of overtime.