It was the last gut-wrenching defeat of a heartbreaking season.
The Kansas Wesleyan men rallied from a 14-point second half deficit, took the lead twice in the final 1:48 but couldn't hang on in an 84-82 Kansas Conference loss to Ottawa in the season finale and Senior Night on Saturday inside Mabee Arena.
Trailing 75-61 with 8½ minutes left, the Coyotes (12-16 overall, 7-15 KCAC) embarked on an 18-3 run and took the lead on two Alex Littlejohn free throws at the 1:08 mark.
Ottawa (18-10, 13-8 KCAC) went back on top 80-79 on a Najee Jones' basket with 50.3 seconds left. Littlejohn answered with a dunk with 38.2 seconds left made it 81-80 but OU's Braylon Wheeler, a reserve guard, buried a back-breaking 3-pointer 16.6 seconds later that put the Braves up 83-81.
Easton Hunter was fouled on a layup attempt with 7.0 seconds remaining and made one of two free throws to cut the deficit to 83-82. KWU fouled Wheeler on the inbounds pass with 6.2 seconds left and he made one of two free throws for the final point. Izaiah Hale's long 3-point attempt bounced off the rim as time expired.
Nine of the Coyotes' last 10 losses were by three points or less.
"It's tough," KWU coach Anthony Monson said on the postgame radio show. "A guy that typically doesn't make shots knocks down the biggest shot of the game then one of our best free throw shooters goes to the line and goes one for two. Sometimes they just don't go in."
The Coyotes led 9-2 at the outset and were up 26-21 with 5:05 left in the half. Ottawa, though, closed the half on a 21-3 run and led 42-29 at the intermission.
Littlejohn, playing in the final game of his legendary career, finished with 26 points on 11 of 15 shooting and grabbed 12 rebounds. He departs as the school's all-time scoring and rebounding leader.
DJ Hudspeth and Gabe Phillips, playing in their final games as well, finished with 18 and 10 points respectively. Evens Appolon had nine points, eight rebounds and three blocks.
"I'm proud of the fact they didn't give up," Monson said. "It's been a tough year for a lot of guys who have had a ton of success in their life, and I know they're hurting in the locker room."
It was the final chapter for seven seniors - Cam Stevenson, Ryan Weber, Phillips, Hudspeth, Littlejohn, Hunter and Hale.
"I'm proud of the group that's graduating this year, they've accomplished a lot," Monson said. "I don't think they should be judged on this season; it should be judged on the body of work that they did and man, they're a special group. I don't think we've had a four-year stretch where we've won 80 games before. They've left their mark on this program."
KWU shot 42 percent (26 of 62) including 6 of 24 from long range and 24 of 32 at the foul line.
Ottawa shot 43.5 percent (30 of 69), 6 of 28 from deep and 18 of 24 at the line. Jones scored 22 and Jayden Hibbitt 20.
"It was a season of what ifs is the best way to put it," Monson said. "The ball bounces a couple of ways differently and you get a couple of wins, and you don't know how it goes. We kept battling and fighting all year.