W.Va. Wesleyan 57, Winston-Salem State, N.C. 54
All-Region guard Raymont McElroy knocked down a go-ahead 3-pointer with 19.5 seconds remaining to spark the Bobcats (22-8) past the Rams (21-9) in a tightly-contested thriller.
Neither team led by more than 3 points during the final 11 minutes but in the end it was Wesleyan that delivered the decisive run as the Bobcats scored the final 6 points of the night to earn the school’s first-ever NCAA tournament victory.
Marcus Wells hit 1-of-2 free throws to give Winston-Salem a 54-51 lead with 1:39 to go before Colby Wohlleb started the Bobcats down the comeback trail with a free throw of his own at 1:11.
The Rams turned the ball over without getting a shot and Wesleyan coach Jim Boone called timeout with 41 seconds left to set up the crucial possession.
The shot clock had wound down into single digits before the ball came around to McElroy in front of the Bobcat bench and he drained a 22-foot bomb for a 55-54 Wesleyan lead.
Wells tried to answer at the other end but his runner failed to drop and the Bobcats’ Mike Jefferson closed out the scoring with a pair of free throws after being fouled on the rebound with 4 seconds left.
McElroy led Wesleyan with 14 points with Reggie Chambers and Wohlleb adding 13 and 11 points, respectively.
Kimani Hunt had 15 points and 9 rebounds – both game-highs – for WSSU while Justin Glover added 14 points in a losing cause.
