March 10, 2006

Walsh University (Ohio) defeated Oregon Tech 81-66 in the second round of the 15th Annual NAIA Division II Men's Basketball National Championship. The 2006 event is being held at the Keeter Gymnasium on the campus of College of the Ozarks (Mo.).

This game was a rematch of one of the Final Four games in 2005 and also featured the last two national champions (Walsh in 2005 and Oregon Tech in 2004). Walsh eliminated Oregon Tech in the Final Four, 77-70, last season. The defending champions led 27-22 in the first half until an 8-0 Hustlin' Owl run gave Oregon Tech their first lead, 30-27. The Cavaliers tied the game up at 32 by intermission. With the Cavaliers clinging to a 48-46 lead with 15 minutes to play, Walsh scored the next seven points to take their biggest lead at 55-46. Oregon Tech would not get closer than seven the rest of the way as the Cavaliers pulled away and won by 15.

Third seed Walsh University was led by junior forward Adam Lesch who scored 23 points, making 10 of 16 field goals. Junior Jason Hicks and sophomore Eder Araujo each scored 14 points, with Araujo pulling down 13 rebounds to record the double-double. Hicks dished out a game-high nine assists.  The Cavaliers pounded Oregon Tech on the boards, pulling down 40 caroms compared to 30 by Tech. Walsh shot 49% from the field and made 35% from beyond the arc. They join Mount Vernon Nazarene (Ohio) in the Elite Eight, giving the American Mideast Conference two teams in the quarterfinal round.

Oregon Tech was led by transfer sophomore Ryan Fiegi who netted 19 points. Levell Hesia, who scored 30 points in their first round win over Northwestern (Iowa), was held to 14.  Sophomore Max Gotzler came off the bench to score nine points and pull down six boards. The Hustlin' Owls shot 46% from the field, 26% from beyond the arc. The 2004 national champions were making their eighth appearance at the national tournament and have 19 wins during that span. They end their season with a 25-9 overall record.

Walsh improves to 27-6 on the season with the win and advances to the quarterfinal round on Saturday. The Cavaliers will face unseeded MidAmerica Nazarene University (Kan.), who upset sixth-seed Indiana Southeast in the first round and then defeated Cardinal Stritch (Wis.) 66-57 earlier Friday.  Game time is scheduled for 1 p.m. The 32-team, single elimination tournament concludes Tuesday, March 14.

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