12/27 - GEORGE FOX 82, RAMAPO 78: Bruins Upset 35th-Ranked Ramapo in First Round of Cactus Jam
PHOENIX, Ariz. - Aaron Schmick sank two free throws with a tenth of a second left, icing the George Fox University Bruins' 82-78 upset win over the Ramapo College Roadrunners in the opening round of the Cactus Jam Division III men's basketball Tournament Saturday afternoon here at Phoenix College.
The Bruins trailed by one at the half, 38-37, to the Roadrunners from Mahwah, New Jersey, ranked 35th in the latest D3hoops.com national poll, but took a 15-point lead midway through the second half. The Roadrunners rallied, however, cutting the lead to one, 79-78, with just under a minute to play.
The Bruins' Chris Parker, who had not missed a free throw all season, was fouled with 20 seconds left. He missed the first of a two-shot foul, but made the second for an 80-78 Bruin lead. Ramapo's All-American guard, Charles Ransom, then misfired on a potential game-winning three-pointer, the Bruins grabbed the rebound, and Schmick was fouled and hit his two freebies with one tick left on the clock to secure the stunning win.
Schmick finished with 27 points, including 5 goals from three-point range, while Mark Gayman added 17 points and 12 rebounds, his 2nd double-double this season and 10th of his career. Bryan Wadlow added 12 points.
Ransom had a game-high 39 for Ramapo, the only Roadrunner in double figures. Eliazar Velez was the top Ramapo rebounder with 8.
George Fox evened its record at 3-3, while Ramapo slipped to 5-3.
The Bruins next face Wartburg College from Iowa, an overtime winner over Clark University of Massachusetts, on Monday at 12:15 p.m. (Mountain Time). The Roadrunners will take on Clark on Monday at 10:00 a.m. In later games Saturday, Ohio Northern University met Illinois College at 2:30 p.m. and Colorado College squared off against another Northwest Conference team, Linfield College, at 4:45 p.m.