March 19, 2007

Kansas City, Mo. - No. 4 seed Concordia University (Calif.) outlasted top-seeded Robert Morris College (Ill.) 124-119 in four overtimes in the semifinals of the 2007 Buffalo Funds-NAIA Division I Men's Basketball National Championship at Municipal Auditorium.

In a battle of the Eagles, Concordia hit game-tying shots at the end of each of the first three overtimes and pulled away in the fourth extra period to advance to its third NAIA championship game in five years. Concordia, now 31-6 overall, will meet either Oklahoma City University of Faulkner University Tuesday at 8 p.m. CDT in the national title game.

The 243 combined points scored by Concordia and Robert Morris established a new NAIA national tournament record. The old mark of 231 points was set by McKendree College (Ill.) and Huron College (S.D.) in a 124-107 first-round meeting during the 1988 tournament, and later equaled in a 123-108 victory by Albertson College (then the College of Idaho) against Lipscomb University (Tenn.).

The four overtimes also match the second-longest game played in NAIA Tournament history. Back in 2000, Georgetown College held off Biola University (Calif.) by a score of 118-108. The all-time mark of five overtimes was set back in the 1978 tournament by Grand Canyon University (Ariz.) in an 88-85 win over Central State University (Ohio).

"I don't know if there has ever been a better NAIA game in this tournament, ever," said Concordia head coach Ken Ammann. "It's a shame that one team had to lose. Both Robert Morris and our team showed a tremendous grit all season long. (Robert Morris) made some tough plays to tie in regulation and we made some tough plays in overtime."

Robert Morris, ranked No. 1 in NAIA Division I for the entire year, had its perfect season come to an end at 32-1. Trailing 79-77 with time winding down in regulation, senior forward Anton Palmer scored with 17 seconds remaining to tie the contest at 79-79. Concordia held for a final shot, but junior guard Adam Greenaway was called for an offensive foul at the buzzer to send the contest into overtime.

With 10.9 seconds left in the first overtime, senior center Reggie George made two free throws to give Robert Morris an 88-85 advantage. Concordia worked the ball into the right corner to freshman guard Terrence Worthy, who buried a three-pointer with 0.4 seconds left to even the score at 88-88 and force the second overtime.

Once again, Robert Morris edged out in front 98-96 when senior guard Jimmie Miles made one of two free throws with 35.9 seconds on the clock. Worthy played the role of hero for the second straight overtime when he made a running 10-foot shot in the lane as time expired to force the third overtime tied at 98-98.

Concordia worked its magic at the end of the third overtime when junior guard Keith Lawrence pumped in a 22-footer with 2.8 seconds remaining to knot the score at 111-111. Concordia finally took control in the fourth overtime, scoring the final six points to pull out the victory. Senior forward Levi Luster's lay-up with 49 seconds on the clock pushed Concordia in front to stay, 120-119.

Luster led Concordia with 29 points and 12 rebounds. Lawrence came off the bench to add 20 points, while junior guard Rafael DaSilva and junior forward Josh Kramer each chipped in with 16 points. Worthy connected for 15 points while senior forward Kyle Huggest contributed 13 points for Concordia.

Senior guard Melvin Council posted a team-high 22 points along with a game-high nine assists to lead Robert Morris. Senior guard John Winchester added 20 points. Three different players each scored 16 points for Robert Morris, including senior forward Freeman Taylor, who pulled down a game-high 18 rebounds, and Palmer, who had 17 rebounds. Winchester also handed out eight assists. For the game, Robert Morris held a 69-52 edge in rebounding.