UVSC wins hoops title on last-second shot in overtime

FORT MEYERS, Fla. — Ryan Toolson hit a long 3-pointer as time expired in overtime to lift UVSC to a 81-80 win over Florida Gulf Coast on the Eagles' home floor to claim the National Provisional Title.

Toolson's heroics were necessary because Gulf Coast's Scot Wilson hit a 3-pointer of his own as regulation expired to tie the score at 71.

UVSC finishes 23-5 in its inaugural NCAA Division I season.

Before Toolson's game-winning shot the Eagles' Tisme Robinson scored on a nice pass from Bryan Crislip, giving the Eagles their 80-78 advantage. Following Robinson's basket, the clock was not stopped and ran down to eight-tenths of a second left in the game. The referees caught the error and put 2 seconds back on the clock.

David Heck passed the ball from out of bounds most of the length of the court to Jon Bell near the foul line. Bell immediately flipped the ball back to Toolson, who shot over 6-7 Leighton Bowie.

Toolson's scoring shot ended FGCU's home win streak at 29.

UVSC's largest lead of the game, 61-48, was with less than seven minutes to play. Gulf Coast began to full-court press the Wolverines, and the result was a 15-0 FGCU run that put the Eagles on top, 63-61, with 4:51 left.

Contributing to the Wolverines' offensive woes during the run was leading scorer Ronnie Price fouling out with 5:28 left.

With Price out, Pierre Thomas returned to the game after sitting with four fouls of his own. Thomas sank two free throws with 35 seconds remaining to put UVSC ahead by four, 71-67. With 16 seconds left in regulation and UVSC leading 71-68, Thomas was at the line again but missed both, giving Wilson his opportunity at the end of regulation.

Despite his early departure, Price once again led all scorers with 26 points. Bell finished with 15 points and 18 rebounds. Toolson scored 11 points and Thomas 10. Lee finished with 7 points, Wesley 6, Sharp 3, and Heck 3. FGCU was led by Roman Brown, 18, Robinson, 16, Bowie, 16, and Ryan Hopkins 11.