March 9, 2007

POINT LOOKOUT, Mo. - The biggest upset of the tournament occurred as #16 Northwest (Wash.) shocked #1 Bellevue (Neb.), 61-56, to advance to the quarterfinal round of the 16th-Annual NAIA Division II Men's Basketball National Championship. It marks the fourth consecutive year in which the top seed has not advanced to the Sweet Sixteen. The 2007 event is being held at the Keeter Gymnasium on the campus of College of the Ozarks (Mo.).

Bellevue led the entire first half and seemed to seize control with an early run in the second half to lead 44-24 with 16 minutes to go. Northwest began their furious comeback with 11 straight points and took their first lead of the game, 54-53, with just 1:18 left to play. A Bruin field goal by Joe Webb gave the lead back to Bellevue, but a Chris Keller three point basket gave the Eagles the lead for good. Northwest clinched the upset with four straight free throws to advance to the Elite Eight.

Aaron Sawyer led the Eagles with 14 points and 11 rebounds. Stephen Ishmael was the only other player to score in double figures with 11. After shooting just 29% from the floor in the first half, Northwest improved to 58% from the floor in the second half and shot 44% for the game.

Bellevue was led by Joe Webb who ends a brilliant career with 14 points. The senior forward went 5-12 from the floor, 4-7 from the free throw line. John Gray added 12 points and 11 rebounds in the loss. After shooting 61% from the field in their game one win over Fisher College, the Bruins were held to just 34% against the Eagles. The Bruins suffered just their second loss of the season and finish with a 32-2 overall record.

Northwest improves to 26-8 overall and will face unseeded Cornerstone (Mich.) in Saturday's quarterfinal game scheduled for 1:00 pm. The 32-team, single elimination tournament concludes Tuesday, March 13.