Box Score Fifth year senior Zack Blue scored a career-high 31 points, and the University of Mary Washington men's basketball team nearly made a historic comeback in the final minutes, but th Eagles fell, 80-78, to Emory University in the third round of the NCAA Division III tournament on Friday evening in Middletown, CT. Blue also surpassed the career 1,000 point mark in the game. The Eagles close with a 15-15 record.

Mary Washington built a seven-point lead in the opening six minutes, as first year guard Jose Fudd connected on a three pointer to give UMW a 16-9 lead with 13:54 on the clock. Sophomore Kaden Bates added a basket to push the lead to nine, before Emory three buckets and a free throw to draw to within 18-17. 

Blue scored five of the game's next seven points, though, to up UMW's lead to 23-19 with 8:53 left in the half. A basket from Jadon Burgess and a three from Blue continued the run, as the Eagles opened up a 28-19 lead with 7:41 left. A pair of Blue free throws with 4:27 left gave UMW a 35-25 lead, but with three starters in foul trouble, Emory took advantage to draw even by halftime, 37-37.

The lead swung back and forth early in the second, Emory went ahead with a basket at 14:29, and would hold a one-point lead at 66-65 with 6:53 left. Emory then reeled off a 10-0 run in the next two minutes to take what looked to be an insurmountable 76-65 lead with 4:18 to go.

But UMW, playing without leading scorer Kye Robinson, who fouled out, made an equally incredible run. Trailing by 12 with 2:19 on the clock, Blue hit a pair of free throws and a three pointer to get UMW to within 79-72, and another pair of Blue free throws and a jumper from sophomore Jay Randall cut the margin to 79-76 wih 37 seconds left.

Emory made a free throw before Blue hit two more with 19 seconds left, and UMW stole the ensuing inbounds pass, but weren't able to connect on a three pointer to win and a follow jumper to tie at the buzzer.

UMW shot 24-64 from the floor (37.5%), making 6-20 three point shots and 24-32 free throws. Emory shot 28-54 (51.9%), connecting on 10-23 three point tries and 14-25 free throws. Emory held a 41-35 edge in rebounding, while the Eagles committed just six turnovers while forcing 15 from Emory.

The loss ends a magical run through the C2C Tournament, and through the first weekend of NCAA action, marking just the second time that UMW has advanced so far in the tournament in program history.