POINT LOOKOUT, Mo. - The semifinals are set as defending champion
Oklahoma Wesleyan defeated third-seeded Indiana Wesleyan 71-59 in the
final game of the quarterfinal round of the 2010 NAIA D-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.)
It looked to be a blowout from the start as the defending champions
stormed out to a 14-2 and later a 28-8 lead. Indiana Wesleyan could not
find the bottom of the net and scored just 10 points in the opening 10
minutes of play. The Wildcats were 0-for-9 from the three-point arc in
the first half and made just 32% of their field goal attempts but still
managed to rally late and trail by 11 (39-28) at intermission. Sadiel
Rojas had a strong first half, leading Oklahoma Wesleyan with 14 points
and six boards.
Indiana
Wesleyan came out firing in the second half and pulled to within six
after scoring the first six points off the half. They continued on what
ended being a 22-10 run, eventually taking their first lead (50-49) on
a one-hand slam off an offensive rebound by Josh Williams. Three free
throws by Ryan Hetrick gave the Wildcats its largest lead at 55-51. The
defending champions responded with a run of their own and after three
straight three-point plays, one by Aaron Crowley and two by Steve
Briggs, took the lead for good 64-55. Indiana Wesleyan did not get any
closer than nine the rest of the way as they scored just four points
over the final seven minutes.
Oklahoma Wesleyan shot 39% for the game, 28% from beyond the arc.
Rojas was huge for the Eagles with his second straight double-double,
21 points and 14 rebounds along with several jaw-dropping dunks. Briggs
scored 20 points and pulled down seven boards while Murray Shaw netted
11 points, including several key free throws down the stretch.
Indiana Wesleyan was led by Ryan Hetrick with 16 points and Zach
Coverstone added 12. The Wildcats never go on track offensively,
shooting 36% for the game and 14% from the three-point arc. They end
the season with a 30-6 record.
Oklahoma Wesleyan improves to 30-4 and will play #15 Saint Francis in the second semifinal game on Monday, March 15 at 8:00 pm.