Eagles Soar to Second Round
POINT LOOKOUT, Mo. – No. 8 Northwest (Wash.) picked up a 79-71 victory over the defending national champions, Cornerstone, in the second game at the NAIA Division II Men’s Basketball National Championship. The 2012 event is being held at the Keeter Gymnasium on the campus of College of the Ozarks (Mo.).
Northwest advances to the second round for only the second time in school history at the tournament. NU is in its third trip to the NAIA Division II National Championship.
The Eagles (28-4) were able to hold off Cornerstone after shooting 9-for-24 from behind the arc and 49 percent from the field. Northwest made six of its 12 three-point attempts in the first half, while holding the Golden Eagles to 2-of-12 shooting from behind the perimeter. NU made 14 of its 17 free-throw attempts. Northwest threw 17 assists to its 15 turnovers.
Jordan Call led five NU double-digit scorers with 21 points. The senior was 7-for-10 from the field, including 3-of-4 from three-point range. Rich Skillman added 17 points, Ahmaad Cook finished with 12 points, Ryan Dornik had nine of his 11 points in the first half, and Michael Greene scored 10. Skillman threw a team-high five assists and Greene grabbed eight rebounds.
The Eagles jumped out to an early lead and had a 25-11 advantage with eight minutes left in the first half. NU closed the half outscoring Cornerstone, 14-9, taking a 39-20 advantage into the locker room at halftime.
The Golden Eagles opened the second half on a 5-0 run, before Northwest continued to have double-digit lead, including 68-52 with 4:38 remaining in regulation. CU responded with a 9-0 run over the next two minutes, cutting the lead to single digits. Cornerstone would come as close as seven points, 76-69, within the final minute thanks to a pair of late three-pointers from Justin Yoder.
Dan Possehl led Cornerstone with 14 points and 12 rebounds. Possehl went 6-of-10 from the field, making both of his three-point attempts as well. Yoder, Wes Hudson and Jake Plite each finished with 13 points. Yoder had a game-high eight assists.
The Golden Eagles (19-13) outrebounded NU, 36-30. Cornerstone finished 44 percent from the field, 9-of-26 from three-point range, and 2-for-6 from the free-throw line. CU threw 17 assists and committed 16 turnovers. Cornerstone loses for just the second time out of 12 games in the first round all-time.
Northwest advances to Friday's second round and will play Northwestern (Iowa). Tip-off is scheduled 4 p.m. Central Time. The 32-team, single elimination tournament concludes March 17.