March 13, 2008

Point Lookout, Mo. - Grace (Ind.) advanced to the second round of the 17th annual NAIA Division II Men's Basketball National Championships, defeating #14 Embry-Riddle (Fla.), 75-65. The event is being held at the Keeter Gymnasium on the campus of the College of the Ozarks (Mo.). 

The Lancers opened up a 10-2 lead to start the contest and led by as many as nine points in the first half. But Embry-Riddle battled back and took a 31-30 lead into the locker room at the break. The Eagles went up by as many as seven points in the second half but Grace stormed back to reclaim the lead with 7:51 remaining and never relinquished it, holding off Embry-Riddle for the 10-point win.

Grace's Eric Gaff led all scorers with 25 points on 11-of-13 shooting from the field and completed a double-double with 10 rebounds. Kyle Johnson added 18 points, while Marcus Moore contributed 12 points in the win.

Tyler DeBord led the way for Embry-Riddle with 14 points and eight boards. Eric Lorenzi tallied a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds, while William Benjamin came off the bench for 10 points, nine rebounds and a pair of blocked shots.

Grace, now 25-9, will face third-seeded Morningside (Iowa) in the second round on Friday at 5:45 pm. The 32-team, single elimination tournament concludes Tuesday, March 18.