March 8, 2007

POINT LOOKOUT, Mo. -#15 Mount Vernon Nazarene (Ohio) clinched a furious second half comeback with a free throw with .6 seconds left to defeat upset minded Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.), 73-72 at the 16th 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.).

In the closest game of the national tournament to date, Dakota Wesleyan began the game with seven three point baskets in the opening six minutes to grab a 23-9 lead. Mount Vernon Nazarene managed to cut the lead down to seven before another Tiger run put DWU up by 11 at halftime, 47-36. Dakota Wesleyan extended the lead to 17 early in the second half before the Cougars started their comeback bid. Mount Vernon Nazarene tied the game at 66, and took their first lead of the game, 69-66, with under three minutes left to go. The teams exchanged baskets down the stretch and with the score tied at 72, Ryan Seesholtz was fouled on a offensive putback with .6 seconds left to earn a trip to the line. The senior made the first of two free throws to seal the comeback victory.

Seesholtz led four Cougar players in double figures with 17 points. He also grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds. Dustin Ultican added 16 points while Dan Borcherdt and Ben Falkenberg scored 15 and 12 points, respectively. Mount Vernon shot 43% from the floor and made 11/22 three point baskets. Falkenberg, the third leading scorer in the nation, left the game in the first half with an injury to his shooting hand. Before leaving, he broke the Cougar single season scoring record with 743 points.

Dakota Wesleyan was led by senior Brock Seim who scored 20 points. Andrew Lasche' drilled six three point baskets for 18 points and Jered Hokenson added 14 for the Tigers. Dakota Wesleyan made 16 of 32 three point attempts, one shy of the single game tournament record of 17 set by three teams, most recently by Berea (Ky.) in 1999. The Tigers were making their second ever national tournament appearance and first since 1995. The Tigers finish the season with a 24-8 overall mark.

Mount Vernon Nazarene will advance to the second round on Friday, March 9 at 1:45 pm., where they will play the winner of the #2 MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.)/ Trinity International game which will be played later today. The Cougars improve to 25-6 overall on the season.

For more information on the NAIA Division II Men's Basketball National Championship visit www.naia.org.