March 16, 2007

Kansas City, Mo. - Robert Morris College (Ill.) used a 13-2 run at the start of overtime to post an 86-76 win against Oklahoma Baptist University Friday in second-round action at the 2007 Buffalo Funds-NAIA Division I Men's Basketball National Championship. The 32-team event is being held at Municipal Auditorium in downtown Kansas City.

 

Top-seeded Robert Morris kept its perfect record intact by winning its first overtime game of the 2006-07 season. The Eagles are now 31-0 and will meet No. 9 Crichton College (Tenn.) in the quarterfinal round of the NAIA Tournament Saturday at 2 p.m. CDT. Oklahoma Baptist, this year's No. 16 seed, ends its season with a mark of 21-11.

 

After the teams battled to a 67-67 deadlock at the end of regulation, Oklahoma Baptist scored the first basket of overtime before Robert Morris reeled off 13 consecutive points to grab an 80-69 lead with 1:25 to play. Senior guard John Winchester made a pair of three-pointers during the decisive run for the Eagles. The Bison scored on their next basket to cut the margin to 80-71, but Robert Morris was able to seal the victory by hitting all eight of its free throw attempts in the final 55 seconds of play.

 

Oklahoma Baptist forced the extra period by scoring the final five points of regulation. Trailing 67-62, senior guard Tre Griffin hit a three-point shot with 1:18 to play to cut the Bison deficit to 67-65. Senior forward Julius Hird scored on Oklahoma Baptist's next possession to tie the contest at 67-67. Robert Morris missed a shot in the closing seconds to set up the overtime period.

 

Winchester paced Robert Morris with 17 points, including five three-point field goals. Senior forward Freeman Taylor posted a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds, while senior center Reggie George and senior guard Jimmie Miles each chipped in with 12 points. Sophomore forward Casey Love recorded 10 points and a team-high 11 rebounds for the Eagles, who are making their third consecutive trip to the quarterfinal round of the NAIA national tournament.

 

Senior forward Mike Fraser led Oklahoma Baptist with a game-high 23 points and 15 rebounds. Griffin contributed 19 points while Hird collected 16 points.