Kjos three-pointer at the buzzer wins it for Jimmies

SIOUX CITY, Iowa-- Marc Kjos (SO/Lake City, MN) sank a three-pointer at the buzzer to give the University of Jamestown men's basketball team a 72-71 win over Briar Cliff University Wednesday night.

Jamestown matched a season-high with its fifth straight win and is now 17-5 overall and 13-4 in the GPAC. Briar Cliff falls to 11-12 overall and 8-10 in the conference.

The Jimmies led 40-31 at the half and extended the lead to double digits following a Mason Walters (SO/Jamestown, ND) basket at the 17:44 mark of the second half. Briar Cliff responded with a 15-4 run over the next 4:56 to tie the game at 48.

Kjos hit back-to-back shots and Walters added another as a 6-0 run lasting 62 seconds put the Jimmies back in front. The Chargers came back with the next seven points to go ahead by one, and the pressure intensified.

Jamestown's final lead came at 62-61 when Jack Talley (SR/Sioux Falls, SD) scored with 4:10 left in the game. Ethan Friedel and Quinten Vasa made three-pointers, and Quinn Vesey sank a bucket to put BCU up by five with 2:10 left.

Cole Woodford (FR/Redwood Falls, MN) connected on a three to make it a two-point Charger lead with 1:04 left, then Kjos tied the game with 29 seconds to play.

Briar Cliff took a 71-69 lead as Conner Groves got open for a layup with 1.3 seconds left.

Faced with going the length of the floor, Jamestown took a time out and drew up a play to perfection. Woodford inbounded the ball and threw a pass deflected by Brock Schrom (SR/Grand Rapids, MN) at the top of the three-point line. The ball found its way over to Kjos on the left wing, and his release found nothing but the bottom of the net as the clock reached zero.

Kjos finished with a game-high 18 points, making four three-pointers. Woodford had 10 off the bench and Brady Birch (SR/Melrose, MN) recorded a double-double of 10 points and 11 rebounds.

Vasa led BCU with 16 points, and Jaden Kleinhesselink added 13 and five assists. Groves was also in double figures with 11.

UJ moves into second place in the conference standings, 1 1/2 games behind Morningside (15-3) and a half-game ahead of Dakota Wesleyan (12-4).

The Jimmies host Midland on Saturday at 4 p.m. in their final regular-season home game.