The dream run continued for the Emory University men's basketball program Saturday night as the Eagles advanced to their first-ever appearance in the national championship game with a 72-58 victory over Christopher Newport University at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
The Eagles advance to play the University of Mary Washington in the Division III national championship on Sunday, April 5th at 4:30 PM inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse, home of the NBA's Indiana Pacers. Both schools will be making their first trips to the title game in their respective program's histories.
Emory was led Saturday night by senior Ben Pearce who scored a game-high 21 points while distributing five assists. Pearce was joined in double figures by junior Ethan Fauss, who posted another monster double-double with 15 points and 14 rebounds to go along with three blocks, and senior Jair Knight who went for 13 points. Junior AJ Harris and Spencer Hall both contributed eight points with Harris adding 10 boards, and sophomore Mario Awasum recorded seven points and four blocked shots.
An uncharacteristic cold spell for the Eagles in the first half saw the Captains jump out with the early momentum and led by as many as nine points at 35-26 with 3:17 remaining in the half. Despite the sluggish start, Emory held CNU off the scoreboard for the final minutes of the half and used a 6-0 run from free throws by Fauss and Knight as well as driving layup by Pearce to go into the locker room trailing only by three at 35-32.
The mini burst at the end of the first half continued as the teams returned to the court for the final 20 minutes as Emory extended its run to a 19-4 span to lead 45-39 at the 13:25 mark.
Emory's led dwindled to three at 50-47 with 10:30 left to play but another defensive stand by the Eagles where CNU did not score for close to five minutes had Emory in front 55-47 at the under six-minute mark.
The Captains' Toa Hollenbeck tried to keep CNU within reach but a triple from Knight followed by points from Awasum and a Hall baseline jumper off the feed from Pearce had Emory surging ahead by 12 ahead of the final media timeout with the atmosphere starting to sense victory for the Eagles.
Free throws from Emory saw the lead grow to as many as 17 in the closing moments before the Eagles emptied the bench for several players to receive much-deserved standing ovations from the Emory faithful that made the trip to Fort Wayne.
Stay tuned to emoryathletics.com and Emory Athletics on social media over the coming days for more information regarding the 2026 national championship game in Indianapolis.
