SALEM, Va. (AP) – After playing in the Division III consolation game twice in three years, Amherst is getting the chance at a championship.

Tim McLaughlin scored 16 points and Andrew Olson added 15 points in Amherst’s 67-60 victory against Wooster in the semifinals Friday night.

The Lord Jeffs (29-2) will play defending national champion Virginia Wesleyan on Saturday night. Virginia Wesleyan beat Washington University of Missouri 67-65.

“We’ve been here twice in similar situations and given it back,” Amherst coach David Hixon said. “These are uncharted waters for us.”

McLaughlin added eight rebounds and three steals, Olson had nine assists, and Dan Wheeler added 11 points for Amherst, which dominated early and then prevailed in a back-and-forth contest down the stretch.

“For every run they had in the second half, we always had one big play,” Olson said.

Reserve Tim Vandervaart scored 20 points for the Flying Scots (29-4), who trailed by as many as 18 in the first half and by 14 at intermission. A 21-4 run at the start of the second half gave them the lead for the first time at 46-43 on James Cooper’s 3-pointer.

McLaughlin answered with a 3 of his own for Amherst, and it was close the rest of the way.

“We were really in a hole, but I knew our players wouldn’t quit,” Wooster coach Steve Moore said.

Wooster had the lead until Kevin Hopkins’ layup with 1:39 left gave Amherst a 61-60 margin. The Lord Jeffs sealed it by making six free throws.

Tom Port had 13 points and Cooper 12 in Wooster’s first Final Four appearance since 2003.

“We played our hearts out,” Vandervaart said. “When it slips away like that, you’re crushed.”

Wooster will play the loser of Friday night’s second semifinal for third place.