WILLIAMSBURG, Va. (Interstat) — In a game defined by a frantic final minute, Bryson Cokley’s deep 3-pointer with two seconds remaining lifted Elon to a stunning 81-78 victory over William & Mary in a Colonial Athletic Association men’s basketball clash Saturday afternoon at Kaplan Arena.

The win, secured before a Valentine’s Day crowd of 5,074, snapped a three-game losing skid for the Phoenix and avenged a narrow home loss to the Tribe just over two weeks prior. Elon improved to 14-13 overall, while William & Mary, which had been an overwhelming favorite according to pregame projections, fell to 16-10.

The contest’s climax was a masterclass in tension. With the score tied at 78 and under 30 seconds to play, William & Mary’s Jo’el Emanuel stole the ball from Elon’s Chandler Cuthrell, leading to a transition layup by Emanuel that gave the Tribe a two-point lead with just 24 seconds left. Elon, without a timeout, pushed the ball upcourt. The possession nearly stalled, but Ned Hull found Cuthrell cutting for a layup to knot the score at 78 with 46 seconds remaining.

William & Mary called a timeout to set up a final shot. The play resulted in a contested 3-point attempt from Tunde Vahlberg Fasasi that missed, and Cuthrell secured the crucial defensive rebound. Elon quickly advanced, and Cokley, isolated near the top of the key, launched a step-back 3-pointer over a defender that swished through the net, silencing the home crowd and putting Elon ahead 81-78 with only two ticks on the clock.

William & Mary’s desperation heave from Reese Miller was off the mark as time expired, cementing the comeback victory for the visitors.

The game’s most important sequence was undoubtedly the final 90 seconds, which saw three lead changes and the game-tying and game-winning baskets. Elon’s composure in the final minute, particularly after the costly turnover that led to Emanuel’s go-ahead score, proved decisive.

Cokley, a 6-foot-6 guard from Whiteville, North Carolina, was the undeniable star, erupting for a game-high 29 points on the strength of six 3-pointers. His clutch shooting performance marked a dramatic return to form after scoring just six points in each of his previous two outings. He added three rebounds and two assists in 35 minutes.

He was ably supported by Chandler Cuthrell, who posted 17 points, eight rebounds and five assists. Isaac Harrell contributed 12 points and five rebounds for the Phoenix, who shot efficiently from the floor and capitalized on William & Mary’s mistakes, scoring 15 points off turnovers compared to the Tribe’s six.

William & Mary’s attack was more balanced but ultimately fell short. Kyle Pulliam led the Tribe with 18 points, while Reese Miller added 15 and Emanuel finished with 13 points, seven rebounds and three assists. Tunde Vahlberg Fasasi also scored 13. The Tribe dominated inside, outscoring Elon 38-32 in the paint, but their 13 turnovers proved costly against an Elon team that committed only six.

Elon controlled the first half, building a 43-36 lead at intermission behind Cokley’s hot hand. William & Mary responded with a strong second half, outscoring the Phoenix 42-38. A 9-0 Tribe run midway through the period gave them their first lead since the opening minutes, setting the stage for the back-and-forth finish.

The victory gives Elon a season split with William & Mary after the Tribe’s 79-76 win in North Carolina on Jan. 29. Elon will look to build on the momentum when it hosts North Carolina A&T next Saturday. William & Mary, meanwhile, will aim to regroup quickly as it travels to face Campbell on Thursday.