NEW YORK, NY – Top-seeded Valparaiso was in control for most of the game, until a late-second half comeback gave the Cougars a brief one-point lead with under two minutes to play. David Skara would come off the Crusader bench, though, to hit a tie-breaking three with 20 seconds left, and then Shane Hammink blocked a last-second shot by Chase Fischer to preserve a 72-70 Valpo win over second-seeded BYU.
Forwards Skara and Alec Peters led the attack for the Horizon League’s regular season champions with 15 points apiece.
West Coast Conference Player of the Year Kyle Collinsworth carried the Cougars with 20 points in his last game in a BYU uniform.
Scott Graham and Kelly Tripucka called the action on Westwood One Sports.