Fox free throw earns Cougars CL Tournament title - Mar 2, 2016

Austin Fox (6'3''-F-91) cleared his mind, refocused, and made the game-winning free throw giving the University of Saint Francis clinch its first Crossroads League Tournament championship with an 81-80 decision over defending champion Indiana Wesleyan University on Tuesday night.
Fox connected on the second free throw attempt after missing the first with 1.7 seconds to play. After making the second free throw, he intercepted the Wildcats inbounds pass near mid-court setting off a celebration for USF fans in the first CLT Championship Game ever played at Hutzell Athletic Center.
"I knew I just had to have a short memory and make the free throw," a tired, but very happy Fox observed after the fifth one-point decision in 23 Crossroads League and Mid-Central College Conference tournament championship games.
"Great feeling, better than I imagined," Fox said as countless USF fans offered their thanks and congratulations.
USF won its 12th consecutive game adding the CLT title to it CL regular-season championship to finish the season 29-4. Winners of 24 of its last 25 games, the Cougars may be ranked No. 1 in the final NAIA DII Coaches' Top 25 that will be released Wednesday shortly before the Cougars learn their first-round opponent in the NAIA DII National Championship.
IWU guard Bob Peters (6'2''-G) had tied the game at 80 hitting an off-balance 3-pointer from near the top of the key with 17 seconds left. It was the eighth tie of the game.
Fox had connected on two critical free throws to give USF an 80-77 lead with 35 seconds to play.
While Fox made the most important point in the Cougars' first one-point win of the season to finish with 11 points, Kegan Comer (6'3''-G-94) fired in 32 points, 18 in the first half, to lead all scorers with a career high. Bryce Lienhoop (6'6''-F) added 16 points for the Cougars, who won a USF record 14th consecutive game at home this season.
"To beat a team three times in one season is extremely tough," Comer said with a special on extremely. "We knew if we came out and played Saint Francis basketball, good things would happen. A lot of things fell in our favor. Once I saw Austin go up for that inbounds, he wasn't going to let the ball slip out of his hands. I'm most excited about our team getting the win. It felt finally getting my shot back and helping us pull out the win with a career high. My teammates kept bringing me up and I felt pretty good when those first couple shots fell."
Once again USF Head Coach Chad LaCross noted the unselfishness and the genuine joy they get out of watching each other succeed.
"The play of Kegan Comer to play the way he did in a big game like this, that was huge," LaCross said. "We just needed one free throw from Austin, so making the second allowed us to get a timeout and put Perry (Poindexter) on the inbounds pass. Perry did a great job of defending the pass and when I turned and saw Austin, I knew we had it."
Peters, last week's CL Player of the Week, led IWU (28-5) with 22 points. Jonny Marlin (5'11''-PG) added 13 and Lane Mahurin 12
NAIA No. 2 USF won for the third time this season against No. 5 IWU, which entered the game averaging 95.5 points a game in wins over Huntington and No. 13 Bethel to advance to the championship game.
This is USF's second conference tournament championship. USF won at IWU 76-63 on March 1, 2011. This is USF's second conference tournament championship under the guidance of Chad LaCross .
USF took a 39-35 halftime lead on an Evan Henry 3-pointer after fans were treated to five ties and seven lead changes.

Courtesy of Saint Francis Athletics

Crossroads League Tournament Final: Saint Francis - Indiana Wesleyan 81-80
Crossroads League Tournament Semifinals:
Saint Francis - Goshen 80-76
Indiana Wesleyan - Bethel 104-91