POINT LOOKOUT, Mo. (Box Score)-- Eastern Oregon advances to the second round of the 2010 NAIA Division II Men's Basketball National Championship for the third straight season with a 74-69 win over Davenport (Mich.) this afternoon. The 2010 event is being held at the Keeter Gymnasium on the campus of College of the Ozarks (Mo.).

The first half featured three ties and four lead changes. A jumper by Dan Stafford gave Eastern Oregon a 23-22 lead with 6:11 remaining in the first half. Davenport closed the half on a 17-6 run, however, fueled by Nelson's six three-pointers in the opening half.

The Mountaineers opened the second half on a 7-0 run to close within three. A Nelson field goal with 12:55 to play gave Davenport its largest lead of the second half, 52-45. Eastern slowly cut into the lead and took the lead back, 56-55, with 8:11 left in the game after a Dan Stafford lay-in. The Panthers went ice cold from the field, going over seven minutes without a field goal. Davenport managed to tie it two more times but EOU never fell behind again.

Eastern Oregon finished shooting 42 percent from the field and 31 percent from behind the perimeter. EOU was paced by Jordan Gregg's 20 points as the senior was 7-for-13 from the field. Three other Mountaineers finished in double figures led by Stafford with 15, Steven Sawyers had 11 and Thomas McCarthy chipped in 10. Eastern Oregon outrebounded Davenport, 38-29.

The Panthers shot 42 percent from behind the arc and 37 percent from the field. James Nelson recorded a career-high 27 points for Davenport, 22 in the first half. Gabe Vanderjagt scored 12 and Lorenzo Ecford had 11. Gregg and Stafford each finished with a game-high eight rebounds. Davenport entered the game averaging an NAIA second-best 11.7 steals per game but finished with five.

It was the fifth time in this year's championship that the team trailing at the half won the game. It was also only the second time in six occasions Eastern won a game when trailing at the half this season.

Eastern Oregon (23-8) advances to Friday's Sweet 16 round and will play the winner of the Indiana Wesleyan and University of Virginia-Wise first round game. The 32-team, single elimination tournament concludes March 17, 2009.