Two seconds away from forcing a second overtime after Daniel Webster freshman Chris Hanson sank two pressure-packed free throws to tie the game at 97, Newbury guard Steve Morris answered with a 75-foot miracle that hit nothing but net as the buzzer sounded giving the visiting Nighthawks a stunning 100-97 victory in a wild matchup of future New England Collegiate Conference rivals at a raucous Vagge Gymnasium.
Morris, who had initially forced overtime knocking down a three pointer with 21 seconds to play in regulation, took the inbounds pass from Javon Mathis and heaved the ball from the far right corner knocking down the longest shot recorded in Vagge Gymnasium history in a regular season game.
The win was the eighth straight for the Nighthawks (17-7), while the Eagles (7-17) dropped their fourth straight.
Kevin Cleveland led all scorers for Newbury pouring in 28 points, going 13 of 16 from the field and added 12 rebounds. Arch Mitchell knocked down 21, while Mathis chipped in with 18. Morris finished with 14.
Hanson led Daniel Webster with 19 points including five three-pointers, while Adam Landry knocked down five more from outside on the way to 18 points. Tim Jackson added 11 while Steve Savage chipped in with 10. Senior Eagle captain Ryan Middlemiss, playing in his final home game, dished out a game and career best nine assists and added eight rebounds and five points.
Trailing by 11 at 74-63 with 9:09 to go in regulation, the Eagles mounted a furious comeback with an 18-5 run consuming 4:24 to take the lead. Hanson knocked down a three with 6:34 left for a 77-74 Newbury lead, followed with another with 5:11 to go to cut it to one, and Landry added another for an 81-79 lead with 4:45 left.
After building the lead to 88-81 with 2:18 to after a Hanson jumper, Newbury responded with a wild finish to force overtime. After Cleveland buried two free throws, he followed with a lay up with 1:21 left setting up Morris's first heroics.
Newbury opened the extra session with the first six points thanks to a dunk and layup from Cleveland.
Trailing by five (97-92) with 51 seconds left, Jackson knocked down a three with 40 seconds to go and Middlemiss followed with a steal of Morris with 16 seconds left.
Hanson was then fouled outside the arc and sank both freebies with 2.1 seconds to go, setting up the Morris miracle.