POINT LOOKOUT, Mo. – Eighth-seeded Oregon Tech pulled away from Cardinal Stritch in Game 8 at the 2011 NAIA Division II Men’s Basketball National Championship, 76-61. The 2011 event is being held at the Keeter Gymnasium on the campus of College of the Ozarks (Mo.).
The Hustlin’ Owls (30-4) improved to 13-0 all-time in the first round at the National Tournament. Joseph Foster led all scorers with 21 points. The senior scored 19 in the first half and shot 7 for 13 from the field in the game, including 3 of 6 from three-point range. Scotty Riddle chipped in 13 points. Alex Zerbach grabbed a team-high eight rebounds.
Tech jumped out to an early 12-4 lead and stretched it the margin to 23-10 at the 10:20 mark of the first half. OIT took a 36-26 lead into halftime. The Owls outrebounded Cardinal Stritch, 16-8, in the first half. Oregon Tech made 4 of 6 from behind the arc in the half, while the Wolves were 0 for 3.
Cardinal Stritch opened the second half on 8-2 run to close the gap to 38-34 with 17:00 remaining in regulation. The Wolves continued their run coming within three points twice, the latest at 12:08 mark of the second half, 46-43. Oregon Tech answered with a 7-0 run and cruise from there. A David Clarke three-pointer with 6:51 remaining in the game gave OIT the cushion it needed, 61-46.
The Wolves were held to 0 for 12 shooting from behind the perimeter by Tech’s defense. Cardinal Stritch finished the game 40 percent from the field, and 15 of 24 from the free-throw line. Navjot Singh scored a team-high 14 points on 4 of 9 shooting. Brandon D’Amico added 11 points.
Oregon Tech outrebounded Cardinal Stritch, 40-17. The Owls shot 55 percent from the field, 6 of 16 from behind the perimeter, and 18 for 24 from the free-throw line. Tech committed 21 turnovers to the Wolves’ 8.
No. 8 Oregon Tech advances to Friday's second round and will play No. 9 Indiana Wesleyan first round game. The 32-team, single elimination tournament concludes March 15, 2011.