Jimmies beat Warriors at the buzzer

FREMONT, Neb.-- Cole Woodford (FR/Redwood Falls, MN)'s running layup at the buzzer gave the University of Jamestown men's basketball team a 49-47 win over Midland University Thursday night in Great Plains Athletic Conference action.

Jamestown led for the entire game until Bo Sandquist made a three-pointer to give Midland a 45-43 edge with 3:24 to play.

Mason Walters (SO/Jamestown, ND) sank a pair of free throws to tie the game, then scored on a layup with 17 seconds left to put UJ ahead by two.

The Warriors got a game-tying shot by Jake Rueschhoff with four seconds left, leaving just enough time for Jamestown to attempt a game-winning shot.

Woodford took the inbound pass and drove the left side of the floor, making a running shot off the backboard as the final buzzer sounded.

It was a season-low 49 points for the Jimmies, who entered the game averaging 87.2 points per game. Prior to Thursday, UJ's fewest points scored came in a 74-57 against Briar Cliff on December 15.

Marc Kjos (SO/Lake City, MN) and Will Cordes (FR/Shakopee, MN) hit three-pointers and Walters scored back-to-back buckets as the Jimmies led 10-2 just under three minutes in. The lead grew to as many as 11 after Jack Talley (SR/Sioux Falls, SD) made all three free throws after being fouled on a three-point attempt.

Midland closed the half on a 14-4 run, holding the Jimmies scoreless for the final 5:36, and trailed by just one at halftime.

Cordes and Woodford opened the second half with threes, and another Kjos three-pointer gave UJ an eight-point lead with 16:12 remaining. The lead grew to 10 points at the 12:30 mark, but a 15-3 Warrior run capped off by the Sandquist three-pointer set the stage for a dramatic finish.

Walters finished with 22 points and 12 rebounds. Kjos and Woodford each scored seven, and Cordes ended with six.

Josh Lambert paced Midland with 14 while Rueschhoff was also in double figures with 10.

Jamestown shot just 35.4 percent for the game, but held Midland to 1-of-17 shooting from beyond the arc and did not allow the Warriors to attempt a free throw.

With the win, UJ is now 12-3 overall and 8-2 in the GPAC. Midland falls to 3-11 overall and 1-10 in the conference.

Saturday the Jimmies travel to Seward, Neb, to face Concordia University at 4 p.m.