March 14, 2008

Point Lookout, Mo. - Ninth-seed Bethel (Ind.) opened the second round with a 86-81 victory over Ottawa (Kan.) at the 2008 NAIA Division II Men's Basketball National Championship. The 17^th-annual event is being held at the Keeter Gymnasium on the campus of the College of the Ozarks (Mo.). 

Bethel surged ahead in the first half courtesy of a 15-2 run and led by 12 at intermission, 49-37. The Pilots shot 58% in the first half, 56% from the three point line. David Birch kept Ottawa in the game with 18 points in the opening half.

Trailing by 14, Ottawa battled back to cut the Bethel lead down to five with eight minutes to go. The Pilots, however, were able to hold off Ottawa and advance to the second round.

The Pilots were led by junior William Walker who scored in double figures for the second straight game with 25 points. He made 11-of-19 field goal attempts and also pulled down a team-high nine rebounds. Ryne Lightfoot and Tyler Brown were also in double figures with 18 and 17 points, respectively.   

Ottawa was led by David Birch with a game-high 28 points. The KCAC Player-of-the-Year went 8-of-15 from the floor and scored 42 points in the two tournament games. Clint Brightman recorded a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds. The Braves, making their fourth tournament appearance, finish the season with a 24-9 overall record

Bethel, in their seventh national tournament but first since1999, advances to the Elite Eight. They will play either top-seed Bellevue (Neb.) or #16 Aquinas (Mich.) in the first game on Saturday at 1:00 pm. The 32-team, single elimination tournament concludes Tuesday, March 18.