Ryan Fiegi led the Hustlin' Owls into the Elite Eight for the sixth time in school history.
Win & Advance: OIT Reaches NAIA Hoop Quarterfinals with Victory Over Evangel
POINT LOOKOUT, Mo. – Oregon Tech defeated Evangel (Mo.) 72-63 Friday night in the NAIA Division II men’s basketball championships to advance to the national quarterfinals for the sixth time in school history and first time since 2005.
Tech (27-6) will face Grace (Ind.), a 90-81 victor over third-seeded Morningside (Iowa) earlier in the day, in Saturday’s quarterfinals. Tip-off at Keeter Gymnasium on the campus of the College of Ozarks is set for 8 p.m. CT.
Ryan Fiegi led four Hustlin’ Owls in double figures with 19 points in 31 minutes of action. The 6-7 senior, who partially dislocated his right kneecap in Tech’s first-round victory Thursday night, was 6 of 13 from the field and grabbed six rebounds. Josh Wetzler hit all six of his field goal attempts and finished with 13 points. Jguwon Hogges and Ryan Beesley each added 10 points.
Evangel, which finished its season 28-6, was led by Tim Dial, who had 22 points, and Shane Nicholson, who added 18.
Tech held a 27-26 lead at intermission, but Evangel opened the second half on a 13-5 run to take a 39-32 lead. After an OIT timeout, the Hustlin’ Owls responded with eight unanswered points on a pair of field goals by Fiegi and one each by Hogges and Josh Wetzler. Evangel’s Nicholson answered with a bucket to give the Crusaders their last lead of the game, 41-40, as OIT slowly pulled in front by as many as 10 points. Evangel would get no closer than six points the rest of the way.