ST. LOUIS, Mo. -- Bryan Williams' running three pointer as time expired fell just short, allowing host Washington University of St. Louis to hold on for a 63-61 win over Whitworth College in the second round of the NCAA Division III men's basketball tournament on Saturday night.

Eighth-ranked Washington (22-4) will now face top-ranked Wisconsin Stevens-Point in a sectional semifinal on Friday at a location to be determined. Whitworth's season ends with a record of 24-4 and the Pirates set a new school record for season winning percentage (.857).

Jones led the Pirates with 17 points

Williams' shot came after the Bears' point guard Sean Wallis missed two free throws with 4.7 seconds left. Jon Young secured the rebound and found Williams running free up the right side of the court. He let the ball go as the defense arrived from about 28 feet. The shot was on-line, but just short.

Whitworth had a chance to win the game despite trailing by as many as eight points with eight minutes to play. The Pirates had two chances to tie in the final two minutes, trailing 60-58. Ryan Symes grabbed a rebound while getting fouled, but missed the front end of a one and one with 1:14 to go. Then Williams stole a pass and went the length of the floor, driving against the Washington front line but his short jumper rimmed around and out. The Bears took the rebound and their fast break resulted in a three point play by Nick Nikitas and a 63-58 lead with 28 seconds to go.

Symes made a long three pointer with six seconds left, and Whitworth quickly fouled Wallis on the inbounds. His two misses set up Williams' final shot.

The eight point lead for Washington was the largest of the game as the contest remained close throughout the first half and most of the second. Whitworth went to halftime trailing 24-23 despite holding the Bears to only 20% shooting from the field (5 of 25). But Washington took 16 first half free throws, making 12, while the Pirates only went to the line twice.

Williams' shot fell just short as time expired

A lay up by James Jones with 15 minutes to play in the game gave Whitworth a 35-31 lead. But Washington then went on a 14-2 run, Tyler Nading scoring eight of the points, to take a 45-37 lead with 9:43 to play. Whitworth would never lead again, but the Bears had to withstand Williams' final shot to earn the win.

Nading led all scorers with 25 points, and he grabbed nine rebounds, as Whitworth focused its defense on Washington's other All-American forward Troy Ruths. Ruths scored 18 points and grabbed 12 boards, but was only 4 of 11 from the field. He made 10 of 13 free throws, however. Nikitas finished with 11 points.

Jones led four Whitworth players in double figures with 17 points. Ryan Symes and Kevin Hasenfus each scored 12 points, Symes adding a team-high eight rebounds. Colin Willemsen came off of the bench for 11 points. Williams finished with nine points and seven assists.

Williams, Hasenfus, Young and Jones all played their final games for Whitworth.