Johnson's Buzzer Beater Lifts Scots to 89-88 Win Over Walsh

WOOSTER, Ohio – With 4.8 seconds remaining, Brandon Johnson (Columbus, Ohio / Groveport Madison) took an in-bounds pass, raced the length of the court, and hit a jumper near the free throw line as time expired, giving The College of Wooster a thrilling 89-88 victory over Walsh University in a closely played contest between two small college powers Saturday night at Timken Gymnasium. Wooster is ranked No. 23 in NCAA Div. III (D3hoops.com), while Walsh entered with the No. 3 rating in NAIA Div. II.

Johnson’s game-winner came after the Fighting Scots (5-2) had fallen behind for just the second time during the second half, as following a missed shot by the Cavaliers (8-2), Walsh’s Josh Johnson scored on a lay-up from the left side of the basket while being fouled at the 4.8 mark to tie it 87-87. He made the ensuing free throw.

Wooster elected not to call timeout, as Johnson dribbled the ball up the left side of the floor, crossed back towards the middle of the floor, and pulled up from about 15 feet, taking the shot over the Cavaliers’ 7-footer, Eder Araujo.

Neither team led by more than 10 points during the back-and-forth affair, which featured 11 ties and seven lead changes.

It did appear, though, that the Scots were pulling away early in the second half. After Walsh scored the first points of the half to tie it 45-45, Wooster went on a 9-0 run, capped by a 3-pointer by James Cooper (Springfield, Ohio / Springfield South), who scored 32 points for the second consecutive game.

The Scots were still up nine a few minutes later (63-54) when the Cavaliers began to steadily chip away at the lead, going on a 10-2 run while Wooster’s offense went uncharacteristically stagnant. During a six-minute stretch, the Scots were just 1-of-6 from the field and turned the ball over four times.

From there, it remained a two-possession game over the final seven minutes. Wooster did hold a five-point lead with just under a minute to go, but a Brandon Weems’ lay-up on the next possession pulled Walsh within 86-83.

The key sequence which allowed the Cavaliers to get back in it came on the ensuing in-bounds pass, as Josh Johnson stole it underneath the basket and went up for a couple of lay-up attempts, making the second for a one-point margin (86-85).

Brandon Johnson hit this running jump shot near the foul line moments before the game clock expired to lift Wooster past Walsh 89-88.

Walsh was then forced to foul, sending Cooper to the line where he made the first but missed the second (87-85). Weems then penetrated to the hoop and missed a shot, but it was rebounded by Corey Jones in the lane, who passed it to Josh Johnson for what turned out to be the aforementioned three-point play.

For most of the game, both squads were clicking on all cylinders offensively. The Scots were 55.4 percent from the field, including a similar rate on their 3-pointers (.542; 13-of-24), while Walsh was at 52.3 percent (34-of-65), highlighted by 11-of-19 3-pointers (.579). Wooster got to the free throw line a little bit more, converting 14-of-17 (.824), and the Cavaliers were perfect there (9-of-9).

Also noteworthy, the Scots held a three-rebound advantage (31-28), despite Walsh’s size advantage, and the two combined for only 18 turnovers, 11 for Wooster and seven for the Cavaliers.

Individually, Cooper’s 32-point night came on 12-of-17 field goals, including 7-of-9 3-pointers, and the one free throw. The seven 3-pointers made marked the third-most for a single-game in school history. Brandon Johnson’s buzzer beater gave him 12 points, the same as Devin Fulk (Newark, Ohio / Licking Valley), and Bryan Wickliffe (Columbus, Ohio / St. Charles Prep) chipped in 11. Also playing an integral role in the win was Marty Bidwell (Middletown, Ohio / Bishop Fenwick), who had nine points, six rebounds, six assists, and two blocked shots.

Walsh put five in double figures, sparked by Joe Shardo’s 21 points, which included 5-of-5 3-point shooting. He came into the game having made seven 3-pointers all season.

Next, the Scots will fly out to the Bahamas Monday for games against St. Mary’s (Md.) College (6-3) and Benedictine (Ill.) University (3-4) on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively.