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March Madness: Ranking the college basketball national championship games across all three divisions

By Daniel Benjamin

Apr 3, 2017; Phoenix, AZ, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels team holds up the trophy after the win over the Gonzaga Bulldogs in the championship game of the 2017 NCAA Men's Final Four at University of Phoenix Stadium. North Carolina defeated Gonzaga 71-65. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 3, 2017; Phoenix, AZ, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels team holds up the trophy after the win over the Gonzaga Bulldogs in the championship game of the 2017 NCAA Men's Final Four at University of Phoenix Stadium. North Carolina defeated Gonzaga 71-65. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 19, 2017; Tulsa, OK, USA; View of the logo on a ball rack before the game between the Kansas Jayhawks and the Michigan State Spartans in the second round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at BOK Center. Mandatory Credit: Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 19, 2017; Tulsa, OK, USA; View of the logo on a ball rack before the game between the Kansas Jayhawks and the Michigan State Spartans in the second round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at BOK Center. Mandatory Credit: Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports /

3. D-III Men’s Championship

The Babson (Mass.) College Beavers defeated the Augustana (Ill) College Vikings in the closest championship game in 2017.

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Trailing 79-78 with 5.5, Augustana’s Nolan Ebel got the ball in transition near half court and attacked the basket. As Ebel was driving, Babson’s Joey Flannery came from across the lane and swatted Ebel’s layup away with 2.5 seconds remaining to seal the victory.

Flannery had a terrific game overall. He finished with 23 points, seven assists along with six rebounds. Isiah Nelson (18 points) and Nick Comenale (16) also had great offensive nights for the Beavers.

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Augustana used an early 17-5 run to take a 26-16 lead midway through the first half. However, the Beavers tightened up the defense and limited the Vikings to just 1-of-12 shooting the rest of the way as Babson took a 41-31 halftime lead.

Augustana (24-9) came out of the break on fire cutting Babson’s lead to 56-52. But the Beavers (31-2) responded by outscoring the Vikings, 15-9, over the subsequent four or so minutes for a 71-61 lead. Augustana slowly chipped away and got within 71-67 with 4:07 to go.

Flannery scored seven straight points to push the Beavers lead to seven at the 2:40 mark. Ebel, who finished with 20 points, knocked down a trifecta to get the Vikings within 79-75 12 seconds later. Babson kept the door open down the stretch by missing a couple of free throws and Joe Johnston made them pay, converting a trifecta with 10 ticks remaining.

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