WRAL Sports Fan

WRALSportsFan

Hot Shooting Leads Barton to Division II Title

Mar 24, 2007

In a celebration unlike any other, Anthony Atkinson and the Barton Bulldogs celebrated a stunning turnaround in the final 45 seconds against defending champion Winona State to score a 77-75 win and the NCAA Division II title.

Winona State had won 35 games in a row and the Warriors held a seemingly safe 74-67 lead in the second half when Barton's Anthony Atkinson cut the lead to 74-69 with 38 seconds left. Winona's Zach Malvik then scored a free throw, but Atkinson again pulled off a pull-up to make the score 74-71 with 25 seconds left.

Barton's Errol Frails stole Winona’s inbounds pass and dished the ball to Atkinson who scored and was fouled. He missed the free throw, but Malvik missed at the other end with Atkinson coming up with another key rebound.

With Atkinson’s reverse, Barton tied the game and the matchup looked like it was headed into overtime. But as Winona State attacked, Bobby Buffaloe knocked the ball away and Atkinson came up with the grab. He then scored a buzzer-beater lay-up, totaling 10 points in 38 seconds.

• Reporter: Bob Holliday
• Web Editor: Dana Franks