It’s the true definition of going down to the wire: The John Carroll University men’s basketball team lost a 73-72 barnburner to the young Capital Crusaders on Saturday, Jan. 18. 

This game was decided in the final minute. Down four with under a minute remaining, senior Connor Fitzgerald drained a three-pointer to put the Blue Streaks within one point.

Then, they were gifted with the break they needed. Capital’s Reed Bradfield, who was second on the team with 16 points, missed a shot on the other end of the floor. Fitzgerald grabbed the rebound.

With the shot clock turned off, Fitzgerald brought the ball up the floor and fired a three-pointer from the same spot where he had drained one 32 seconds beforehand. Only this one was no good. 

“Fitzy [Connor Fitzgerald] took an open shot. His feet weren’t balanced but it was a good look for him,” head coach Pete Moran said in an interview with The Carroll News. “He’s leading the league in three-point percentage. He’s a senior and if he’s going to take that shot, I am going to support him.”

JCU had one final crack at it as Capital’s Tyler Schreck missed a free throw. Flannery made one last desperate effort to sink a basket inside the paint, but his poor shooting day continued. 

“We had two situations where were down one and we got the ball after a missed free throw and I said, ‘Let’s go.’ Should I have called a time out? I don’t know. If we would’ve made that shot, I look like a genius.”

Thus, the Blue Streaks’ six-game win streak was snapped and JCU tracked back to .500 in the OAC.

The game was as close as could be. There were 12 lead changes, with the Crusaders holding the advantage for 48.9% of the game, JCU at 42.8%.

In the final seven minutes, the game was tied six times and the Blue Streaks held the 63-61 lead with 6:54 remaining. But as we saw, the Blue and Gold just could not hold on.

The Blue Streaks shot just 38.1% from the field and 31.3% from three. They came into the game ranked within the top 10 in Division III in three-point field goal percentage. Additionally, only a combined 22 points by junior Jackson Sartain and seniors Sean Flannery and Jimmy Berger did not work in JCU’s favor. 

“I think getting punched in the mouth against Capital will be eye-opening.”