March 7, 2007

POINT LOOKOUT, Mo. -  Eighth seed Walsh University (Ohio) defeated King College (Tenn.), 78-69, in the first round of the 16^th Annual NAIA Division II Men's Basketball National Championship. The 2007 event is being held at the Keeter Gymnasium on the campus of College of the Ozarks (Mo.).

 

Leading 61-59 with seven minutes to play, Walsh outscored King 13-5 over a span of five minutes to build a ten-point cushion with two minutes left in the contest.

 

Five players were in double figures for the Cavaliers, led by guards Brandon Weems and Corey Jones with 14 points. Eder Araujo and Brandon Speck added 12 each while Derek Chappell netted 10. Jones pulled down a  game-high nine rebounds while Weems dished out 10 assists. Walsh shot 57% from the floor and a blistering 58% from beyond the arc. They also had control of the glass, outrebounding King 32-24.

 

The Tornados were led by junior Torrington Cox who netted 28 points and pulled down seven rebounds. RuShaun Reeves added 17 points, including four three pointers. King College, making their fourth national tournament appearance and first since 2004, ends the season with a 23-11 overall record.

 

Walsh improves to 28-5 on the season with the win and advances to the second round on Friday. They will face the winner of the #9 Sioux Falls/Cornerstone game on March 9 at 8:30 a.m. The 32-team, single elimination tournament concludes Tuesday, March 13.