Grand Canyon Wins NAIA Title, 88-86

KANSAS CITY — Rodney Johns scored 41 points, including a 15-foot shot with three seconds left in overtime, Tuesday night to carry Grand Canyon to an 88-86 victory over Auburn Montgomery in the title game of the National Assn. of Intercollegiate Athletics tournament.

There was 1:08 left when Alphonso Bell committed his fifth foul, sending Grand Canyon’s Craig Johnson to the free-throw line, where he made one shot to tie it, 86-86.

Seconds later, Bobby Harris stole a Grand Canyon pass and drove in for a layup. Johnson blocked the shot, and Grand Canyon called time out with 13 seconds to play to set up Johns’ title-winning shot.

Johns, who had 39 points and the winning tip-in at the buzzer in Grand Canyon’s 108-106 semifinal victory over Waynesburg, Pa., was named the tournament’s most valuable player.