POINT LOOKOUT, Mo. (Box Score)-- Sixth-seeded Embry-Riddle University (Fla.) rallied to hold off upset-minded Evergreen State (Wash.), 80-78 in the first game of the 2010 NAIA Division II Men's Basketball National Championship. The 2010 event is being played at the Keeter Gymnasium on the campus of College of the Ozarks (Mo.).

Evergreen State (19-11) went up by as many as 15 points, (23-8) after jumping out to a 12-0 lead to begin the game. The Geoducks led 48-35 at halftime, and took a 50-35 lead just moments into the second half. Embry-Riddle then began to chip away at the lead and went on a 26-14 run that spanned nearly 10 minutes to get back in the game.

Embry-Riddle tied the game at 70 with a pair of Eric Lorenzi free throws and later grabbed its first lead after two more free throws by Lorenzi with three minutes left to play. The teams traded baskets until three Nathan Menefee free throws with 30 seconds left put the Geoducks back up one, 77-76. A basket by Lorenzi followed by a pair of Touchard free throws put Embry-Riddle up for good, however, en route to the 80-78 win.

Embry-Riddle was led by David Butler who led all scorers with 27 points. The junior went 10-for-19 from the field, grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds, and threw a game-high four assists. Lorenzi added 22 points while Blake Touchard (14) and Ray Graham (13) were also in double figures.

Nate Menefee led Evergreen with 26 points, making 8-of-16 field goal attempts. Josh Troyer finished with 15 points, and Julio Feliciano and Anthony Gallagher each added 12.

Embry-Riddle advances to Friday's second round with a 29-5 record and awaits the winner of the ninth-seeded Bethel College (Ind.) and Friends (Kan.) match-up. The 32-team, single elimination tournament concludes Tuesday, March 16. undefined undefined