Johns Hopkins Eliminated on Last-Second Three-Pointer by TCNJ, 74-73

Nick Koch had been on the wrong end of last-second tournament losses in each of the past two seasons. On Friday night in Ashland, Virginia, the TCNJ senior made sure the heartbreak landed somewhere else.

Koch drilled a stepback three-pointer with 1.1 seconds remaining to lift No. 22 The College of New Jersey past Johns Hopkins, 74-73, in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Division III Tournament, played on the campus of Randolph-Macon College. The shot was TCNJ's only lead of the second half, and it ended the Blue Jays' season at 20-8.

Koch finished with 24 points on the night, but the game had come down to a frantic final two-and-a-half minutes. Matthew Solomon, working through foul trouble that limited him to 28 minutes, connected on a three-pointer with 2:12 left to cut Johns Hopkins' lead to 71-69. TCNJ then strung together four consecutive stops against a Blue Jays team that had been shooting better than 60 percent in the second half, with Koch's layup at the 45-second mark tying the game at 71.

Johns Hopkins answered immediately. Wyatt Eglinton Manner converted a floater with 24 seconds left to push the Blue Jays back in front, 73-71, and put TCNJ in a position that had broken the Lions in previous tournament appearances.

Lions coach Evan Elberg turned to the program's second all-time leading scorer. Koch caught the ball, stepped back, and released the three. It went in with 1.1 seconds on the clock.

David Alexandre joined Koch in double figures with 23 points, one shy of the career high he set in the NJAC championship game. Solomon contributed nine points and 11 rebounds despite his foul-limited minutes. TCNJ improved to 22-6 with the victory and advances in the Division III bracket.

For Johns Hopkins, the loss closes a 20-win season without the chance to extend it. Koch's three ensured it ended at the first hurdle.