Barton Stuns Winona State at Buzzer, Takes Division II Title

College Basketball

Barton Stuns Winona State at Buzzer, Takes Division II Title

Mar 24, 2007

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SPRINGFIELD, Ma. — Anthony Atkinson scored 10 points in the final 45 seconds, including a layup at the buzzer, to give Barton College its first NCAA Division II title with a 77-75 victory over defending champion Winona State.

Barton ended Winona's two-year, 57-game winning streak and survived a review of the final play by the officials.

Winona appeared poised to repeat as champion when Zac Malvik made two free throws to put the Minnesota school ahead 74-67 with 45 seconds left. Two straight baskets by Atkinson made it 74-71. Barton stole the ensuing inbounds pass and Atkinson scored again and was fouled, as he brought his team within one. He would miss the free throw to tie.

After a Barton foul, Winona made one of two free throws to extend the lead back to a pair.

Atkinson would come through yet again, as he tied the score with an acrobatic reverse layup to tie the score at 75 with 7.6 seconds left on the clock.

Winona, with a chance to win, quickly inbounded the ball and rushed up court. However, Fuquay-Varina's Bobby Buffaloe stole the ball from behind, stopped on a dime, and passed the ball back to a waiting Atkinson at midcourt with 2.6 seconds left.

And the rest, as they say, is history.

Atkinson raced in uncontested for the final lay-up as time expired for his third last-second winning shot in as many games.

Barton, of North Carolina, finished 31-5. Winona (35-1) beat previously unbeaten Bentley 64-61 in the quarterfinals.

Atkinson finished with 29 points. Malvik led Winona with 26 points.