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Tue, Mar 17, 2009
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Story Courtesy of NAIA Sports Information
POINT LOOKOUT, Mo. - For the first time in the history of the NAIA D-II Men's Basketball National Championship, two teams from within the same conference will battle for the ultimate prize, the national championship. Top-seeded Oklahoma Wesleyan and unseeded College of the Ozarks (Mo.) from the Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference will meet for the fourth time this season. Oklahoma Wesleyan is 2-1 against Ozarks this season, winning 79-64 (Feb.10) and again in the MCAC championship on Feb. 28, 84-63, both at home. Ozarks, one of just two teams to beat the Eagles this season, upended OWU on its home court on Jan. 20, 87-76.
The game features the highest scoring team at the tournament, Oklahoma Wesleyan, averaging 88.5 points in its previous four games at the tournament, against Ozarks, one of the top defensive teams, giving up just 62.5 points per game. Oklahoma Wesleyan also leads the tournament field in three-pointers (51), averaging 12.8 per game, and in rebound margin at +13. Both teams are among the tournament's top five in three-point percentage with the Eagles shooting 43% and Ozarks at 41%.
Individually, Oklahoma Wesleyan is led by junior guard Steve Briggs, who leads the tournament with 120 total points and 21 three-pointers. Briggs needs just two more three-pointers to break the record of 22 three-pointers in the tournament, set in 1994 by Eric Kline of Northern State and Chris Peterson of Eureka (Ill.). Junior guard Mike McNeil is averaging 13.5 points per game, shooting 57% from beyond the arc (57%) in four games at the tournament. Levi Mooney (10.5) and Sadiel Rojas (10.2) are the other top scorers for Oklahoma Wesleyan at the tournament. Rojas leads the Eagles in rebounding, pulling down 8.8 boards per game.
Ozarks is led by senior forward Corey Stone with 87 points (21.8ppg) at the tournament. Stone is 13-for-30 beyond the arc for 43%. Sophomore Jared Howerton is the Bobcats top rebounder, pulling down 7.3 rebounds to go with his 13 points per game. Guards Colt Blair (10.3) and Drew Ray (10.3) are the other top scorers for Ozarks. Blair is third at the tournament with five assists per game while Ray is among the leaders in three-point percentage (8-for-14) at 57%.
College of the Ozarks is the unseeded team since 2003 (Bethany of Kan.) to play in the national championship game. The Bobcats are seeking their second title as they won the championship in 2006. Oklahoma Wesleyan is going after its first championship in just its second appearance at the championship. The 2009 event is being held at Keeter Gymnasium on the campus of College of the Ozarks (Mo.).
Tuesday's Championship Final: (All Times CST) #1 Oklahoma Wesleyan (34-2) vs College of the Ozarks (Mo.) (25-10), 8:50 pm (Televised live on CBS College Sports)
Championship Game Capsules: Oklahoma Wesleyan: 34-2, school record for wins; 17-game win streak heading into tonight; not lost since Jan.20 -began season ranked ninth in preseason; spent final four weeks ranked #1 -#1 seed in 32-team field -making second tournament appearance and first in the Final Four -5-1 record at the national tournament -coach Donnie Bostwick in his second season (56-10); Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference and NABC-NAIA Coach of the Year Tournament Trail: def. Fisher, 115-74 def. Grand View, 74-68 def. #9 Eastern Oregon, 80-79 def. #5 Black Hills State (S.D.), 85-72 Tournament Averages: 88.5ppg, 73.3 points against, 48% FG, 43% 3pt FG%, +13 rebounding Steve Briggs: 30ppg, 3.8rpg, 2.5apg, 21/49 3pters (42pts vs Eastern Oregon in Elite 8;6th highest total) *needs just two more three-pointers to break tournament three-point record (22) *needs 37 points to break tournament scoring record (156 by Bobby Smith-Robert Morris, 2002) Levi Mooney: 10.5ppg, 3.3rpg, 9/17 3pters (53%) Mike McNeil: 13.5ppg, 6.5rpg, 2.3apg, 8/14 3pters (57%) Sadiel Rojas: 10.3ppg, 8.8rpg (1 double-double)
College of the Ozarks: 25-10; five-game win streak heading into the title game -began season ranked fifth in preseason; in the top 25 all season long; ended 19th -first unseeded team in championship game since 2003 -13th overall appearance at the national tournament; 10th straight; third trip to the Final Four -won the 2006 national championship; 21-11 overall at the tournament -along with Oklahoma Wesleyan, are representing the Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament Trail: def. #14 Aquinas, 71-60 def. University of Sioux Falls, 70-56 def. #6 Indiana Wesleyan, 79-70 def. #2 Bethel (Ind.), 73-64 Tournament Averages: 73.3ppg, 62.5 points against; 48% FG; 41% 3pt Fg%, +1 rebound Corey Stone: 21.2ppg, 4.3rpg, 2.5apg; 10/22 3pters Jared Howerton: 13.3ppg, 7.3rpg, 2agp Colt Blair: 10.3ppg, 4.3rpg, 5apg Drew Ray: 10.3ppg, 8/14 3pters (57%)
Head-to-Head: Oklahoma Wesleyan is 2-1 against Ozarks this season, winning both games at home. Jan. 20 @ College of the Ozarks: The Bobcats defeat OWU 87-76 behind a game-high 33 points by Corey Stone. Jared Howerton added 23 as the two combined for 9-for-14 from the three-point line. Steve Briggs and Aaron Crowley led the Eagles with 20 and 19 points, respectively. Briggs went 8-for-23 from the field while Crowley was perfect from the floor (6-for-6) including five three-pointers.
Feb. 10 @ Oklahoma Wesleyan: The host Eagles avenge an earlier loss to the Bobcats with a 79-64 win. OWU shot 48% from beyond the arc (14/29) and held Ozarks to just 40% from the field. Briggs and Mike McNeil scored 29 and 21 points and combined to go 11-for-15 from the three-point line. Scott McElvain was the only Bobcats player in double figures with 12.
Feb.28 @ Oklahoma Wesleyan (MCAC Championship): OWU defeated Ozarks in the rubber game 84-63 to win the MCAC championship. Like in game two, Ozarks struggled from the field, shooting 24% from beyond the arc (5-for-21). The Eagles controlled the glass with a 45-28 advantage on the boards. Briggs scored 19 points, followed by Sadiel Rojas with 15 points and 15 rebounds. Ozarks was led by Stone with 20 and Colt Blair with 10.
Go to the following link to see the complete tournament leaders and stats: http://www.dakstats.com/WebSync/Pages/Tournament/TournamentPage.aspx?association=10&sg=MBB&sea=NAIMBB_2008&tour=231
Tuesday's Championship Final: (All Times CST) Semifinal Winners, 8:50 pm (Televised live on CBS College Sports)