Walter Hill has made numerous big shots during his career — so it was only fitting that he delivered in the clutch one more time on Saturday.

Moments later, he and his teammates were cutting down the nets and celebrating a national championship.

Hill, a senior All-American, made a game-tying 3-pointer as time expired to send the game to overtime, and Shorter University captured its first men’s basketball national title with a 90-87 overtime victory over Oklahoma Christian in the final game of the NCCAA Division I Championship.

The victory capped off a stirring postseason run for the Hawks (21-11), who were the tournament’s No. 5 seed.

Anthony Banks and Dedric Ware each scored 26 points for the Hawks, who trailed by as much as nine in the second half and had to overcome a six-point deficit with just 1:45 remaining to force overtime.

“We always talk about having to overcome adversity,” said Shorter coach Chad Warner. “I think this team epitomized it today — and this year.

“This is just a great moment for Shorter Athletics,” he said.

Shorter, which lost in the NAIA semifinals last season, trailed 77-74 with 13.7 seconds left when Hill missed a 3-pointer from the top of the key and Ware misfired on a second attempt from long range after an offensive rebound.

Kenny Leverette soared high to control Ware’s miss, however, tipping the ball out to Hill, who drilled his second chance from the wing as the buzzer sounded to send the game to an extra session.

“What an incredible play,” Warner said of the final seconds. “Kenny got two offensive rebounds to give us the opportunity and Walt made an incredible shot. We were fortunate.”

In overtime, Shorter built a six-point lead on the shoulders of Banks, who had 11 of Shorter’s 13 points in OT.

Oklahoma Christian (19-12) surged back in the final moments to trim Shorter’s lead to 90-87 with 51.7 seconds left.

After the Hawks missed two shots from in close on their ensuing possession, Hill made another game-saving play, pinning Kendre Talley’s layup against the glass to preserve a three-point lead with eight seconds to play.

Shorter missed a pair from the line that could have iced the game, but Devan White’s 30-foot heave as time expired bounced off the front of the rim, sealing the win for Shorter.

This game was nothing like Shorter’s first two rounds of the tournament, when the Hawks surpassed 100 points.

While Shorter’s first two opponents featured high scoring guards, Oklahoma Christian featured 6-10 All-America center Will Reinke, who came into the game averaging 19 points and 10 rebounds. Reinke finished with 20 points and nine boards on 8 of 11 shooting, but fouled out with 1:45 to go as he and Banks sat much of the second half with four fouls.

Banks went to work on the Eagles after Reinke’s departure, scoring 14 points in the final 6:45 of the game, including overtime.

“I will be lucky if I ever coach a player like Anthony Banks again,” said Warner. “He is the most consistent competitor I have ever coached and he is the best post player I have ever coached.”

Leverette nearly recorded a triple double, finishing with 10 points, nine rebounds and seven assists for Shorter, which overcame a 16-for-28 performance from the foul line.

Hill made just 5 of 17 shots and only 2 of 10 from beyond the arc, but his second make of the game proved to be the biggest shot of his career, allowing Shorter to seize the win in overtime.

The Hawks never led in the first half as Oklahoma Christian built a 31-24 lead with 3:31 left until halftime behind a 7-2 run capped by a Reinke dunk.

The Eagles led by eight at the 2:06 mark, but Shorter closed the half on a 5-0 run sparked by Banks’ steal and dunk to go into the locker room down 33-30.

Shorter took its first lead of the game, 34-33, on two Banks’ free throws 1:42 into the second half.

Hill and Ware, who had seven rebounds and four steals, were named to the NCCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship All-Tournament Team while Banks was named an NCCAA All-American and the Tournament Most Valuable Player.



SHORTER 90,

OKLAHOMA CHRISTIAN 87 (OT)



SHORTER (90)

Banks 10-19 6-9 26, Leverette 4-7 2-5 10, Hill 5-17 1-3 13, Ware 8-20 6-7 26, King 1-3 1-4 4, Pullman 2-4 0-0 5, Wright 1-1 0-0 2, Harris 2-3 0-0 4.



OKLAHOMA CHRISTIAN (87)

Talley 3-10 6-6 13, Troutman 3-6 2-2 11, White 1-4 2-4 4, Johnson 1-3 2-2 4, Harper 4-12 3-3 13, Tate 3-10 4-4 10, Randall 4-6 2-3 12, Reinke 8-11 3-4 20.



Shorter 30 47 13 — 90

Oklahoma Christian 33 44 10 — 87



3-Pointers — Shorter 8-20 (Hill 2-10, Ware 4-7, King 1-1, Pullman 1-2); Oklahoma Christian 9-28 (Talley 1-3, Troutman 3-6, White 0-2, Johnson 0-2, Harper 2-8, Tate 0-3, Randall 4-6, Reinke 1-1). Free throws — Shorter 16-28-; Oklahoma Christian 24-28.