Point Lookout, MO - Walsh (29-2), the number one seed at the NAIA Division ll Championships, played like a top seed in a 97-69 opening round win over the University of Maine at Fort-Kent (21-9) at the Keeter Gymnasium today. Walsh advances to Friday's second round, and will meet unseeded University of Sioux Falls (25-9) at 11:15 (EST). Sioux Falls defeated Grand View University 69-65 in overtime in the first game of the tournament.

Walsh led from start to finish in winning their tenth straight game. The Cavs scored the first ten points in taking command from the opening tip. Ricky Jackson (6-7, Sr., Chicago, IL/Canton McKinley) led the first half charge with 16 points and 11 rebounds in the opening stanza. Walsh led 49-27 at the half, shooting 58% from the field and 70% from three-point on 7-10.

The second half was much like the first, with Walsh keeping the lead in double figures. The Cavs held their largest lead at 31 points (97-66) with 1:30 to play.

Jackson led all scorers with 24 points. He also had a game-high 14 rebounds. Walsh's balanced attack produced five double figure scorers. Brandon Speck (6-0, Sr., Mansfield, OH/St. Peter's) added 16 points off the bench, Lamar Skeeter (6-0, Jr., Dayton, OH/Kettering Fairmount) tallied 14 points and eight rebounds and Jeremy Shardo (6-3, Jr., Yorkshire, OH/Versailles) and Kyelce Cescato (6-10, Sr., Barra Bonita, Brazil/Colmeia Entec) each had 12 points. Shardo complimented his 12 points with seven rebounds, five assists and three steals. Walsh shot 58% from the floor and 47% from behind the arc. The two teams combined for 22 three-pointers. Walsh outrebounded the Bengals 50-28.

"We jumped on them early (10-0), establishing our defense and not worrying about our offense," exclained Cavs head coach Jeff Young. "We held them to three points for the first seven to eight minutes of the game. We knocked down some jumpers early and more importantly really took care of the ball and outrebounded them. If you don't rebound and guard people, you have no chance of winning here. Jackson did what we expected out of him. He is very focused."

For Ricky Jackson, it was the first step. "I felt comfortable, hit some shots during warm-up felt and really good coming into the game. My teammates were looking for me. I'm really proud of the win. We'll embrace the win, but we have to get ready for Friday. This is just first step one."

Maine at Fort Kent was paced by Jimmy Lopez and Jeremy Thomas. Lopez hit four three-pointers and finished wtih 20 points, while Thomas nailed six three's off the bench to finish with 18 points.