March 10, 2006

#5 Mayville State University  (N.D.) defeated unseeded Montreat College (N.C.) 99-92 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.).

Mayville State started the game with a 13-4 run but Montreat tied the game for the first time at 32 with 3:48 left in the first half. The Comets, though, led at the half 46-42. The Cavaliers cut the lead to one early in the second half before the fifth-seeded Comets went on an 11-2 run to take control of the game with 14:06 left to play. Montreat made a late run to get within five, 90-85, with 1:06 left, but Mayville State held on to advance to the quarterfinal round.

A tournament-high six players scored in double figures for Mayville State, which tied Huntington (Ind.) for the most points scored in the tournament to date. Junior Ronald Howard II scored 18 points and dished out five assists to lead the Comets followed by Gilby Sanchez and John Fergo IV with 15 apiece. The senior guard duo each hit a trio of three point field goals in the game. Mayville State shot 48% from the field and 45% from the three point line. The Dakota Athletic Conference Champions advance to the quarterfinal round for the first time since 1998 in their fifth national tournament appearance.

Montreat was led in scoring by junior Tim Lewis who recorded his second straight double-double with 24 points and a tournament-high 19 rebounds. Noble Anthony netted 19 points and grabbed nine rebounds, followed by Thornaal Conyers and Aaron Collazo with 16 and 15 points respectively. The Cavaliers outrebounded Mayville State 41-34 and shot a better percentage from the floor at 49%. Montreat was making their second national tournament appearance and end their season with a 22-10 record.

Mayville State improves to 27-5 on the season with the win and advances to the quarterfinal round on Saturday. The Comets will face the winner of the #4 College of the Ozarks and #13 William Jewell contest which will be played at 7:30 p.m. Friday. The quarterfinal game will be on Saturday, March 11 and is scheduled for 6 p.m. The 32-team, single elimination tournament concludes Tuesday, March 14.

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