Joseph Foster and the No. 2-seeded Hustlin' Owls came up short in the second round of the NAIA Championships, falling to University of St. Francis (Ind.) 75-67 Friday.
OIT's Run Ends in 2nd Round Loss to St. Francis
POINT LOOKOUT, Mo. -- Game 21 went to the 15th-seeded University of St. Francis after it upset second-seeded Oregon Institute of Technology in the second round of the NAIA Division II Men’s Basketball National Championships Friday, 75-67. The 2010 NAIA D-II Men's Basketball National Championship is being played at the Keeter Gymnasium on the campus of College of the Ozarks (Mo.).
The Cougars (25-9) led 40-31 at halftime, and opened the second half on a 6-0 run to take their largest lead after a Matt Edmonds tip-in, 46-31.
The Hustlin’ Owls responded with a 20-5 run to tie the game at 51 with 12:03 remaining in regulation after a Justin Parnell jumper. OIT would grab the lead 47 seconds later after a Mike Nieraeth shot from just inside the three-point line, 53-52.
St. Francis tied the score at 58 with after a Qadr Owens three-pointer with 9:08 remaining in regulation. The Cougars regained and stretched their lead to seven points. Oregon Tech cut the lead to 70-67 after a pair of Parnell free throws with 1:48 left in the game. That was as close the Owls would get.
After finishing with a tournament single-game high of 41 points in the first round Thursday, DeJovaun Sawyer-Davis of USF was held scoreless for the first 14 minutes of play. The junior rallied to finish the half with nine points and 14 for the game. Qadr Owens led the Cougars with 22 points on 6 for 10 shooting from the field. Kevin Bloom added 10 points.
Oregon Tech (30-5) was paced by Parnell’s 25 points. The Cascade Collegiate Conference Player of the Year was 5 for 20 from the field.
The senior added a game-high nine rebounds. Joseph Foster and Nieraeth finished with 19 and nine points respectively.
The Cougars advance to Saturday’s national quarterfinals where it will face the winner of Dakota Wesleyan and Cornerstone at 6 p.m.