POINT LOOKOUT, Mo. – The semifinals are set as defending champion Oklahoma Wesleyan defeated third-seeded Indiana Wesleyan 71-59 in the final game of the quarterfinal round of the 2010 NAIA D-II Men’s Basketball National Championship. The 2010 event is being played at the Keeter Gymnasium on the campus of College of the Ozarks (Mo.)
It looked to be a blowout from the start as the defending champions stormed out to a 14-2 and later a 28-8 lead. Indiana Wesleyan could not find the bottom of the net and scored just 10 points in the opening 10 minutes of play. The Wildcats were 0-for-9 from the three-point arc in the first half and made just 32% of their field goal attempts but still managed to rally late and trail by 11 (39-28) at intermission. Sadiel Rojas had a strong first half, leading Oklahoma Wesleyan with 14 points and six boards.
Indiana Wesleyan came out firing in the second half and pulled to within six after scoring the first six points off the half. They continued on what ended being a 22-10 run, eventually taking their first lead (50-49) on a one-hand slam off an offensive rebound by Josh Williams. Three free throws by Ryan Hetrick gave the Wildcats its largest lead at 55-51. The defending champions responded with a run of their own and after three straight three-point plays, one by Aaron Crowley and two by Steve Briggs, took the lead for good 64-55. Indiana Wesleyan did not get any closer than nine the rest of the way as they scored just four points over the final seven minutes.
Oklahoma Wesleyan shot 39% for the game, 28% from beyond the arc. Rojas was huge for the Eagles with his second straight double-double, 21 points and 14 rebounds along with several jaw-dropping dunks. Briggs scored 20 points and pulled down seven boards while Murray Shaw netted 11 points, including several key free throws down the stretch.
Indiana Wesleyan was led by Ryan Hetrick with 16 points and Zach Coverstone added 12. The Wildcats never go on track offensively, shooting 36% for the game and 14% from the three-point arc. They end the season with a 30-6 record.
Oklahoma Wesleyan improves to 30-4 and will play #15 Saint Francis in the second semifinal game on Monday, March 15 at 8:00 pm.height=“224” />