Johns Hopkins, in its last home appearance of a bad season, looked as if it was about to grab its fourth win with seconds remaining against Western Maryland last night.
With 1:48 remaining Hopkins led 57-52. With 28 seconds left, the Blue Jays led 57-56 and had Scott Simmons at the free-throw line in a one-and-one situation.
But Simmons missed the first shot, and with 11.3 seconds left, Western Maryland freshman Will Marshall (Sparrows Point) scored from underneath to give the Green Terror a dramatic 58-57 victory.
A last-second shot from the left corner by Hopkins' Ryan Peterson bounced off the rim. The visitors seized the rebound at the buzzer.
Western Maryland, which started three freshmen, is 11-12 for the season, 7-5 in the Centennial Conference. The Green Terror has won four of its past five games. Hopkins is 3-19, 3-8.
"We were fortunate to win," said Western Maryland coach Nick Zoulias. "Hopkins played very well -- well enough to win.
"We're tired -- this was our fourth game in seven days -- but we're playing with confidence. Success does that."
Western Maryland's Jeff Daniels was the game's high scorer with 16 points. Hopkins freshman Greg Roehrig was high for the Blue Jays with 15.
"The game could have gone either way," said Hopkins coach Bill Nelson. "We weren't able to get the ball in to Isiah Sandlin for the last shot.
"The difference in the game was the maturity of Western Maryland's Pat Young (Mount St. Joseph). He's a senior now and veteran and that really shows."
In the streaky first half, Hopkins shot out to an 8-0 lead. Roehrig hit on three straight field goals in that stretch.
Western Maryland came back to tie it at 10-10 on a three-pointer by Young. The Green Terror led at 22-18 and 25-20 until Roehrig went back to work.
Roehrig made Hopkins' next two field goals to pull the Jays to within 25-24. Aaron Bevington's follow-up shot at 4:14 put Hopkins on top. Roehrig made another field goal and a free throw to give the home team a 33-26 halftime lead.
Western Maryland took the lead back at 45-44 on a basket by Steve Dziengeleski with 10:57 left. But Hopkins came back and took a 54-50 lead after consecutive field goals by Sandlin and Aaron Bevington.
The lead didn't change hands again until the final basket by Marshall.