SALEM, Va. (AP) — Jeremy Knowles hit a 3-pointer with 3.5 seconds left to give Cabrini an 81-78 victory over Illinois Wesleyan on Friday night in the NCAA Division III semifinals.
Cabrini (31-1) advanced to the title game for the first time. The Pennsylvania school will face the winner of the second semifinal between Wisconsin-Whitewater and MIT in the final Saturday night.
Illinois Wesleyan (23-8) tied it at 78 on Stephen Rudnicki’s jumper with 13.4 seconds remaining.
Cabrini called a timeout, and Aaron Walton-Ross drove down the lane before finding the open Knowles in the corner. Illinois Wesleyan’s Eliud Gonzalez pushed the ball up the court, but his long jumper at the buzzer came up short.
John Boyd led Cabrini with a career-high 34 points, and Cory Lemons and Fran Rafferty each had 11. Knowles finished with seven points. Jordan Zimmer topped Illinois Wesleyan with 19 points.
