2006 SCAC MEN'S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - In the most incredible finish in the four-year history of the SCAC Tournament, DePauw's junior wing Austin Brown nailed a halfcourt shot at the buzzer to lift the Tigers to a 64-61 victory over Centre College in the finals of the 2006 SCAC Men's Basketball Tournament.

The victory earns DePauw (15-12) the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference title and a berth into the NCAA Division III Championship. Brackets will be announced late Sunday or early Monday.

Trailing by two with 10 seconds remaining and coming out of a timeout, DePauw junior guard Reid Sakel attempted and missed a three-pointer, but sophomore post Stephen Schott grabbed the offensive board and was fouled by Centre's Reggie Magnusson with three seconds remaining.

Schott calmly nailed the two free throws and Centre's three quarter pass on the inbounds was deflected out of bounds at the Colonels' bench.

After a DePauw timeout and with two seconds remaining, Centre attempted to lob it inside for a quick catch and shoot, but DePauw's Matt McDonald got a hand on the ball and deflected it toward the Tigers' side of the floor. Brown gathered the loose ball, dribbled once and launched his game-winner as the horn sounded.

The game was closely contended throughout with 13 ties and 12 lead changes, and no one led by more than six points at any time (DePauw 12:54 of the first).

Brown, the tournament MVP, had a team-high 17 points, but it his three-point heave at the buzzer that will be long remembered among the DePauw faithful. Schott had a double-double of 16 points and 14 rebounds and, along with Brown, an all-tournament team selection.

Centre, which ends its season with a 19-8 mark, was led by Magnusson, the 2006 SCAC Men's Basketball Player-of-the-Year, who finished with a game-high 21 points before fouling out just before the game's final sequence.

Junior forward Matt Jacobson had 18 points on 7 of 10 shooting and was selected to the all-tournament team. Joining him on the team was sophomore guard Matt Nestheide, who averaged 19.7 points per game in the Colonels' three-game tournament run.

DePauw shot 47.2% (25-53) for the game and Centre finished at 47.1% (24-51). The Tigers held a 32-27 rebounding edge.