Kirkwood Advances in 3 Overtime Thriller

Danville, IL- Kirkwood Men's Basketball triumphed in a thrilling, back-and-forth triple overtime battle, edging out the sixth-seeded Macomb Monarchs 78-77 in the Elite Eight of the 2025 NJCAA Division II National Championship on Wednesday, March 19. This instant classic saw both teams hitting clutch shots to push the game into each extra period, but in the end, it was the Eagles who emerged victorious.

A familiar face for the Eagles was sophomore Colby Dolphin, whose impact carried over from the previous game into this intense quarterfinal matchup. Throughout the tight contest, with leads constantly shifting, Dolphin stepped up when his team needed him most. With just 12 seconds remaining, he drilled a crucial three-pointer from the corner, right in front of the Kirkwood bench, sparking a celebration that echoed through Danville Community College.

Dolphin finished the night with 23 points, shooting 3-for-5 from beyond the arc. Traijan Sain contributed 20 points and 9 rebounds, and as a team, the Eagles shot 40% from the field. Despite the Monarchs' best efforts, including a clutch three-pointer that forced a third overtime, the Eagles' resilience shone through in the final extra period.

Kirkwood now moves on to face the winner of North Central Missouri and Kalamazoo on Friday at 8 PM CST in the national semifinal for a chance to go to the NJCAA DII National Championship.