Madonna University closed on a frantic final-minute surge, capped by a go-ahead layup from Makyle Doss with 11 seconds remaining, to edge Rochester Christian (Mich.) 77-76 in a back-and-forth contest Tuesday night.
Trailing 76-73 after two free throws from Rochester Christian's Tymias Williams (6'7''-F) with 29 seconds to play, the Crusaders turned to their backcourt to complete the comeback. Ahmoni Weston (6'1''-G) first pulled Madonna within one on a jumper at the 16-second mark. Following a timeout, the Crusaders' pressure forced a turnover, and Doss slipped behind the defense for a layup that gave Madonna a 77-76 lead with 11 seconds left. Rochester Christian committed another turnover with three seconds to go, allowing Madonna to dribble out the clock and secure the one-point victory.
Weston paced the Crusaders with 21 points and seven assists, directing an offense that finished with 18 assists on 34 made field goals. Doss provided one of the most complete performances of the night, finishing with 13 points on 6-of-10 shooting, six steals and four offensive rebounds. Joey Liedel added 14 points, four rebounds and three assists, helping Madonna outscore Rochester Christian 37-36 after halftime to break a 40-40 tie at the break.
Despite the loss, Williams delivered the top individual line of the game for Rochester Christian, finishing with 30 points, 13 rebounds and five assists while shooting 9-for-15 from the field, 3-for-5 from 3-point range and 9-for-10 at the foul line. James Fisher (6'9''-F) added 23 points on 11-for-14 shooting and grabbed nine rebounds, repeatedly giving Madonna problems around the rim, including dunks that punctuated several Rochester runs.The first half set the tone for the tight finish, with neither side able to create separation. Fisher's early dunk and an and-1 sequence helped Rochester Christian build an 8-5 edge, and the visitors later moved in front 34-32 on a jumper by Tyler Allen in the late stages of the half. Madonna answered with balanced scoring before Williams drilled a 3-pointer in the closing seconds to knot the score 40-40 heading into the locker room.
Madonna appeared to seize momentum early in the second half. A stretch highlighted by a 3-pointer from Joey Miller (6'4''-F) pushed the Crusaders in front 51-48, and Madonna's defense began to generate turnovers, finishing the night with 12 steals and forcing 16 Rochester Christian miscues. But Rochester Christian responded again, using Fisher in transition and on the interior. His fast-break dunk with 5:45 remaining extended the visitors' advantage to 69-64, their largest lead of the closing stretch.
From there, the Crusaders leaned on their pressure defense and guard play to claw back. While Rochester Christian shot 46.9% from the field and 92.9% at the line, Madonna compensated with volume, attempting 77 shots to Rochester's 64 and turning eight turnovers of its own into a manageable figure. The final minute showcased that balance: a key defensive stand, two forced turnovers and Weston and Doss converting on consecutive possessions to complete the comeback and deliver a signature one-point win in Livonia.

Courtesy of whac.net

Final:
Madonna - Rochester Christian 77-76

Semis:
Madonna - Lourdes 84-79
Indiana Tech - Rochester Christian 73-75