Oregon Tech Eyes First Final Four Berth Since '05 Tonight vs. Grace

3/15/2008 10:42:12 AM

POINT LOOKOUT, Mo. – The Hustlin’ Owls of Oregon Tech, led by Cascade Collegiate Conference Player of the Year Ryan Fiegi, take aim on their first appearance in the NAIA’s Final Four since 2005 tonight when they meet unseeded Grace College (Ind.) in the quarterfinals of the Division II men’s basketball tournament here.

Tip-off at Keeter Gymnasium on the campus of the College of the Ozarks is set for 6 p.m. PT. The game can be seen live via the Internet at www.watchnaia.com. The game can also be heard live on the OIT radio network by going to the following link: http://cascadeconference.org/sidebar.asp?id=389&path=mbball.

OIT (28-6), which is making its sixth consecutive appearance in the national tournament, has opened tournament play with victories over unseeded Mount Vernon Nazarene (77-74) and sixth-seeded Evangel (72-63). Grace (26-9) defeated Indiana Tech 75-65 in the first round and followed with a 90-81 upset victory over third-seeded Morningside in the second round.

Fiegi, Tech’s 6-7 senior, is averaging 18.5 points per game in the tournament despite having suffered a partial dislocation of his right kneecap eight minutes into OIT’s opening-round game Thursday night. Fiegi came back to play the entire second half, finish with 18 points and help lead the Hustlin’ Owls to their 10th first-round victory in as many national tournament appearances. Last night, against Evangel, Fiegi had 19 points as Tech rallied from a 39-32 deficit in posting the victory.

In other quarterfinal matchups today, Bellevue takes on Bethel College, Northwestern faces Northwood, and College of the Ozarks faces Mid-America Nazarene. The semifinals take place Monday, with the championship game slated for Tuesday night.