March 12, 2007

POINT LOOKOUT, Mo. - #2 MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) defeated Northwestern (Iowa.), 81-71, to advance to the title game of the 16th Annual NAIA Division II Men's Basketball National Championship. The Pioneers will meet Mayville State (N.D.), who defeated Northwest (Wash.) in the first semifinal game, at 8:30 pm. The 2007 event is being held at the Keeter Gymnasium on the campus of College of the Ozarks (Mo.).

After an early four point Pioneer lead, Northwestern went on the game's first run to take command, 18-10 with 10 minutes left in the opening half. MidAmerica Nazarene came back and took the lead again, 20-19, after a 9-1 run keyed by a three pointer by both Brenton Bell and Ryan Rundberg. The game stayed tight for the next few minutes before an 18-4 run during the final four minutes of the first half gave the Pioneers their biggest lead, 42-27, heading to the locker room.

Facing their largest deficit of the tournament, Northwestern scored the first four points of the second half to cut the lead down to 11. The Pioneers answered back, however, and went back up by 17, 55-38, with 12 minutes to go. The Red Raiders were able to cut the deficit down to single digits on several occasions down the stretch, but MidAmerica Nazarene, behind some clutch free throw shooting, withstood the Northwestern charge and advance to their second ever championship game.

The Pioneers were led by junior guard Adam Hepker who scored 21 points before fouling out with five minutes to go. The HAAC Player-of-the-Year was 9/13 from the floor and also dished out five assists. Sophomore center Danny Hawkins recorded a double-double with 18 points and 15 rebounds. Ryan Rundberg came off the bench to net 11 for the Pioneers. MidAmerica shot 50% from the field and held a 43-35 advantage on the boards against the Red Raiders, the top rebounding team in the tournament.

Northwestern was once again led by sophomore guard Kale Wiertzema who scored a game-high 27 points. He was 9/20 from the floor and 8/11 from the foul line. Chad Schuiteman recorded his fourth straight double-double and 22nd of the season with 15 points and 14 rebounds. Mark DeYounge scored 10 off the bench before fouling out. Shooting a tournament best 56% from the floor coming into the game, Northwestern was held to just 37% from the floor by MidAmerica. Northwestern was making their ninth consecutive national tournament appearance and fourth trip to the Final Four since 2001. They end their season with a 26-9 record.

MidAmerica Nazarene, who improve to 33-2, advances to the championship game tomorrow night against #13 Mayville State (N.D.) at 8:30 p.m. The Pioneers are in their third Final Four and will make their second championship game appearance, losing to Northwestern (Iowa) in 2001, 78-82.