March 10, 2007

POINT LOOKOUT, Mo. - The Final Four is set as three of the four higher seeds advance from the Elite Eight to the semifinals, including #2 MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.), who returns to the Monday contests for the second straight year. In another Elite Eight matchup today, Northwestern College defeated defending national champion College of the Ozarks (Mo.). The 2007 NAIA Division II Men's Basketball National Championships are being held at Keeter Gymnasium on the campus of College of the Ozarks (Mo.).

#16 Northwest (Wash.) cruised to a 98-69 victory over unseeded Cornerstone (Mich.) in the first game of the day. The Eagles shot 60% from the floor and had four players score in double figures en route to the victory. Northwest earned a spot in the Final Four in their first ever national tournament appearance.

#2 MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) ended the first ever tournament appearance by Indiana Wesleyan, defeating the Wildcats, 77-68. The Pioneers used an 18-0 run at the end of the first half and the start of the second half to propel them to victory. They were led by Jake Nellor with 23 points and Danny Hawkins added 21 points and eight rebounds. MidAmerica Nazarene advances to their second consecutive Final Four.

#11 Northwestern (Iowa) used a 12-0 run in the second half to pull away from defending champion College of the Ozarks (Mo.), 73-57. Ben Brown hit three straight three pointers during the run and Kale Wiertzema scored 17 points to key the Red Raider victory. Northwestern held All-American Michael Bonaparte to just three points, 21 below his season average.

In the final game of the day, #13 Mayville State (N.D.) held off #12 Cedarville (Ohio), 82-81, to advance to their first ever Final Four. The Comets led by as much 13 points before the Yellow Jackets mounted a comeback in the second half. Trailing by one, Cedarville missed a three pointer in the closing seconds as their comeback bid fell just short. Ronald Howard and Monty Rogers led Mayville State with 26 and 20 points, respectively.

The 32-team, single elimination tournament will continue on Monday, March 12, with a pair of Final Four games beginning at 6:00 pm. The tournament will conclude with the championship game on Tuesday, March 13 at 8:30 pm.

Monday's Final Four Games: # 13 Mayville State (N.D.) (26-8) vs. #16 Northwest (Wash.) (27-8), 6:00 pm. #2 MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) (32-2) vs. #11 Northwestern (Iowa) (26-8), 8:00 pm.

Saturday Quarter-Final Games: #16 Northwest (Wash) (27-8) def. Cornerstone (Mich.) (25-10), 98-69. #2 MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) (32-2) def. #10 Indiana Wesleyan (30-5), 77-68 #11 Northwestern (Iowa) (26-8) def. College of the Ozarks (Mo.) (22-11), 73-57 #13 Mayville State (N.D.) (26-8) def. #12 Cedarville (Ohio) (23-8), 82-81

Friday Second Round Scores: Cornerstone (Mich.) (25-9) def. #8 Walsh (Ohio) (28-6), 78-56 #16 Northwest (Wash.) (26-8) def. #1 Bellevue (Neb.) (32-2), 61-56 #10 Indiana Wesleyan (30-4) def. #7 Oregon Tech (28-5), 95-82 #2 MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) (31-2) def. #15 Mount Vernon Nazarene (Ohio) (25-7), 75-73 #11 Northwestern (Iowa) (25-8) def. #6 Kansas Wesleyan (28-4) vs, 74-54 College of the Ozarks (Mo.) (22-10) def. Spalding (Ky.) (20-14), 66-61 #12 Cedarville (Ohio) (23-7) def. #5 Warner Pacific (Ore.) (28-6), 86-75 #13 Mayville State (N.D.) (25-8) def. Florida Memorial (16-13), 88-72

Thursday First Round Scores: #10 Indiana Wesleyan (29-4) def. Aquinas (Mich.) (22-12), 80-54 #15 Mount Vernon Nazarene (Ohio) (25-6) def. Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) (24-8), 73-72 #7 Oregon Tech (28-4) def. Northwood (Fla.) (23-9), 90-72 #2 MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) (30-2) def. Trinity International (Ill.) (14-20), 69-59 #5 Warner Pacific (Ore.) (28-5) def. Friends (Kan.) (20-12), 82-75 Florida Memorial (16-12) def. #4 Huntington (Ind.) (29-5), 67-64 #12 Cedarville (Ohio) (22-7) def. Evangel (Mo.) (20-13), 97-83 #13 Mayville State (N.D.) (24-8) def. William Penn (Iowa) (25-9), 101-86

Wednesday First Round Scores: #8 Walsh (Ohio) (28-5) def. King (Tenn.) (23-11), 78-69 Cornerstone (Mich.) (24-9) def. #9 Sioux Falls (S.D.) (28-5), 74-60 #1 Bellevue (Neb.) (32-1) def. Fisher (Mass.) (13-18), 95-54 #16 Northwest (Wash.) (25-8) def. Holy Names (Calif.) (21-12), 86-74 #6 Kansas Wesleyan (28-3) def. Bluefield (Va.) (21-12), 92-77 Spalding (Ky.) (20-13) def. #3 Point Park (Pa.) (29-2), 78-63 Ozarks (Mo.) (21-10) def. #14 Saint Francis (Ind.) (22-11), 91-59 #11 Northwestern (Iowa) (24-8) def. Albertson (Idaho) (19-8), 99-77

LEADERBOARD

Leading Scorers: Monty Rogers (Mayville State) - 70 (3 gms) Scott O'Gallagher (Warner Pacific)-69 (2 gms) Ronald Howard (Mayville State) -63 (3 gms) Guy Rathmell (Cedarville) - 60 (3 gms) Chartrea'l Hall (Spalding) - 58 (2 gms) Danny Hawkings (MidAmerica Nazarene) - 57 (3 gms) Michael Bonaparte (Ozarks) - 52 (3 gms) Matthew Stenehjem (Mayville State) - 51 (3 gms) Levell Hesia (Oregon Tech ) - 49 (2 gms) Tramaine Stevens (Florida Memorial) - 48 (2 gms) Kale Wiertzema (Northwestern) - 45 (3 gms) Ryan Short (Cedarville) -45 (3 gms)

Top Rebounders: Chad Schuiteman (Northwestern) - 38 (3 gms) Chartrea'l Hall (Spalding) - 29 (2 gms) Aaron Sawyer (Northwest) - 27 (3 gms) Monty Rogers (Mayville State) - 27 (3 gms) Ricardo Alliman (Cedarville) - 27 (3 gms) Zach Coverstone (Indiana Wesleyan) - 26 (3 gms) Danny Hawkins (MidAmerica Nazarene) - 26 (3 gms) Scott Thies (Mayville State) - 24 (3 gms) John Jonker (Cornerstone) - 23 (3 gms) Akuien Wour (MidAmerica Nazarene) - 23 (3 gms)

Top Assists: Adam Hepker (MidAmerica Nazarene) - 18 (3 gms) Brandon Weems (Walsh) - 16 (2 gms) Pat Cooper (Northwest) - 14 (3 gms) Chad Schuiteman (Northwestern) - 12 (3 gms) Antonio Murrell (Indiana Wesleyan) - 12 (3 gms) Levell Hesia (Oregon Tech) - 11 (2 gms) Marques Benjamin (Mayville State) - 11 (3 gms) Trey Boone (Kansas Wesleyan) - 10 (2 gms) Chartrea'l Hall (Spalding) - 10 (2 gms) Scott O'Gallagher (Warner Pacific) - 10 (2 gms) Kale Wiertzman (Northwestern) - 10 (3 gms) Stephen Ishmael (Northwest) - 10 (3 gms) Michael Bonaparte (College of the Ozarks) - 10 (3 gms)

Tournament Double-Doubles Performances: Ryan Norman (William Penn) - 34 pts, 10 reb Michael Bonaparte (Ozarks) - 32 pts, 13 reb Chartea'l Hall (Spalding) - 31 pts, 13 reb Chartrea'l Hall (Spalding) - 27 pts, 16 reb Alex Kock (Huntington) - 26 pts,, 14 reb Omar Reed (Bluefield) - 26 pts, 10 reb Nick Stephens (Holy Names) - 23 pts,, 11 reb Cory McJimson (Northwood) - 23 pts, 10 reb Danny Hawkins (MidAmerica Nazarene) - 20 pts, 10 reb Ryan Seesholtz (Mount Vernon Nazarene) - 17 pts, 11 reb Chris Pullen (Ozarks) - 17 pts, 10 reb Chad Schuiteman (Northwestern) - 17 pts, 10 reb Chivas Whipple (Point Park) - 15 pts, 10 reb John Jonker (Cornerstone) - 14 pts, 12 reb Aaron Sawyer (Northwest) - 14 pts, 11 reb John Gray (Bellevue) - 12 pts, 11 reb Josh Dozier (Holy Names) - 11 pts, 15 reb Andre Thomas (Florida Memorial) - 10 pts, 11 reb Akuien Wour (MidAmerica Nazarene) - 11 pts, 11 reb Chad Schuiteman (Northwestern) - 11 pts, 12 reb Ricardo Alliman (Cedarville) - 14 pts, 10 reb Maical Venter (Cedarville) - 11 pts, 10 reb Monty Rogers (Mayville State) - 21 pts, 13 reb Chad Schuiteman (Northwestern) - 15 pts, 15 reb. Guy Rathmell (Cedarville) - 12 pts, 11 reb. Zach Coverstone (Indiana Wesleyan) - 13 pts, 11 reb.