March 17, 2007

Kansas City, Mo. - No. 1 seed Robert Morris College (Ill.) became the first team to earn a spot in the NAIA Fab Four field with a 116-96 victory against Crichton College (Tenn.) Saturday at the 2007 Buffalo Funds-NAIA Division I Men's Basketball National Championship at Municipal Auditorium.

 

Senior forward Freeman Taylor score a game-high 26 points and tied a school record with 20 rebounds as the Eagles advanced to their third consecutive NAIA national semifinal round. Seven of the eight players who scored for Robert Morris reached double figures as the Eagles remained undefeated at 32-0. Robert Morris will play either Union University (Tenn.) or Concordia University (Calif.) in a semifinal contest Monday at 8 p.m. CDT.

 

Robert Morris is the first NAIA Division I institution to reach three straight Fab Fours since Fort Hays State University (Kan.) accomplished the feat from 1983-85. The Eagles are also trying to become the first undefeated NAIA Division I national champion since Oklahoma City University went 38-0 in capturing the 1991-92 title.

 

Crichton, the No. 9 seed, raced out to a 12-0 lead in the first two minutes of play, and built the advantage to 23-9 on a basket by senior forward DeShawn Danzey with 14:06 left in the period. Robert Morris then scored the next 13 points to trim the deficit to 23-22. The teams then exchanged baskets and leads for the balance of the half, and a basket by freshman guard Martin Nolin pushed Crichton in front at the break, 55-53.

 

Robert Morris took its first lead of the second half, 58-57, when senior guard John Winchester drilled a three-point shot. After Robert Morris edged out to a nine-point advantage, the Comets made one final run. Crichton put together a 10-2 run to tie the contest at 86-86 with 8:12 on the clock. Senior guard Jimmie Miles made a three-point shot on the Eagles' next possession, and Robert Morris never trailed again. The Eagles closed the game on a 14-2 run.

 

Miles added 19 points for Robert Morris, while senior guard Melvin Council chipped in with 17 points and a game-high nine assists. Sophomore forward Casey Love came off the bench to post 15 points and eight rebounds for the Eagles.

 

The loss ended Crichton's 15-game win streak. Junior forward Stanley Brownlee led the Comets with 24 points and 10 rebounds, while Danzey was right behind with 19 points and seven rebounds. The Comets, who were making their first NAIA tournament appearance, posted an overall record of 28-8 this season.

 

The 222 combined points scored by Robert Morris and Crichton are the most in an NAIA Division I tournament game since Georgetown College (Ky.) outlasted Biola University (Calif.) 118-108 in four overtimes in a 2000 national semifinal contest.