March 20, 2008

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -

Jeremy Weddle scored a game-high 26 points to lead No. 3 Lambuth University (Tenn.) to a 76-68 victory against Saint Xavier University (La.) in the first round of the 2008 Buffalo Funds-NAIA Division I Men's Basketball National Championship at Municipal Auditorium.

Saint Xavier went on a 10-0 run midway through the first half to take a 24-14 lead with seven minutes remaining. Both teams ended the half with 28 points from the field, but Saint Xavier's seven made free throws provided a 35-29 halftime lead for the Eagles.

The Eagles scored nine unanswered points from four different players in the second half to take a 54-53 lead against Saint Xavier. Lambuth scored another seven unanswered points under the five-minute mark to take a 70-63 lead with 2:28 remaining.

 

With the win, Lambuth improves to 30-3 and plays unseeded Oklahoma Baptist Friday at 12:30 p.m. CST in second-round play. Saint Xavier ends its season at 24-9.

Four Eagles scored in double-figures, lead by Weddle who ended one point shy of his season-high. Glen Dedridge led Lambuth with six rebounds. The Eagles collected 18 points off of 25 Saint Xavier turnovers.

Julian Scott recorded his third double-double of the season for Saint Xavier with a team-high 19 points and game-high 13 rebounds. Adam Gregoriou and Kevin Lowe each recorded a season-high five assists.

NAIA
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) is the governing body for athletics programs at its nearly 300 colleges and universities throughout the United States and Canada. The long-held mission of the NAIA is to promote the education and development of well-rounded students and productive citizens through intercollegiate athletics. The association offers equitable access and opportunities for participation in its 23 national championship events held annually throughout the country.

Today, the NAIA strengthens its commitment to student-athletes and strives to enrich their college experience by supporting academic achievement and character development. NAIA Champions of Character is the association's innovative flagship program designed to instill character values in student-athletes, coaches and youth in the communities it serves.