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History is on the line this Sunday in Indianapolis as Emory and Mary Washington meet in the NCAA Division III men’s basketball national championship.
For the first time in either program’s history, the Eagles — one from Atlanta and one from Fredericksburg — will play for the ultimate prize at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Led by senior Ben Pearce — the program’s all-time leading scorer and the 2026 Jostens Trophy winner — Emory punched its ticket with a 72–58 win over Christopher Newport in the semifinals. Mary Washington pulled off a massive upset in the semifinals, taking down the defending national champion, No. 1 Trinity (Conn.), with a 64–61 victory. Under 2026 National Coach of the Year Marcus Kahn, the team has set a school record with 29 wins this season.
This championship is also a “revenge game” of sorts — Emory was the team that knocked Mary Washington out of the NCAA tournament last season. Now, the two teams meet with a piece of history on the line.
Here’s everything you need to know for the championship game, from the start time to streaming information.
Where to watch NCAA D3 men’s basketball championship TV channel: N/A Live stream: ESPN Emory vs. Mary Washington will not be on traditional television, but those looking to stream the game can find it on ESPN via the ESPN app.
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Emory vs. Mary Washington start time Date: Sunday, April 5 Time: 4:30 p.m. ET Emory and Mary Washington will tip off at 4:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, April 5. The game will be played at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Both teams are seeking their first men’s basketball national title, with Emory holding a 3-0 historical edge over UMW in the series.
NCAA D3 basketball championship history Here are the winners of the NCAA D3 men’s basketball championships the last 10 years:
Year Champion Runner-up 2025 Trinity (CT) New York University 2024 Trine Hampden-Sydney 2023 Christopher Newport Mount Union 2022 Randolph-Macon Elmhurst 2021 Canceled due to COVID-19 — 2020 Canceled due to COVID-19 — 2019 UW-Oshkosh Swarthmore 2018 Nebraska Wesleyan UW-Oshkosh 2017 Babson Augustana (Ill.) 2016 St. Thomas (MN) Benedictine 2015 UW-Stevens Point Augustana (Ill.) Related Links 2026 NCAA men’s tournament bracket Men’s college basketball scores, schedule Latest men’s college basketball news How to bet on college basketball
