March 13, 2006

[Complete Bracket and Results]

[Individual Stat Leaders | Team Stat Leaders] (through semifinals)

No. 2 seed Huntington University (Ind.) will take on #4 College of the Ozarks (Mo.) in the title game of the 15th Annual NAIA Division II Men's Basketball National Championship. The 2006 event is being held at the Keeter Gymnasium on the campus of College of the Ozarks (Mo.).

Huntington (32-5), making its sixth tournament appearance, had to withstand a late comeback attempt by unseeded MidAmerica Nazarene University (Kan.) to earn its first trip to the title game with a 78-68 win. The Foresters led by 16 (43-27) at the break and by as many as 20 early in the second half, before the gutsy Pioneers trimmed the deficit to four points late in the game. Huntington answered the challenge with a 14-8 run to close the contest.

Doug Sheckler (19 points) played a key role in stopping the Pioneers' late threat, with 14 points and three blocked shots in the second half. The Foresters were led by Kyle Ganton's 22 points and eight rebounds. Alex Kock added 19 points and five assists. MidAmerica Nazarene (25-11), playing in their record 11th tournament, were led by Jacob Nellor's 20 points and Adam Hepker's 16 points and eight assists. This was the second semifinal appearance for MidAmerica, having earned a runner-up finish in 2001.

Monday's second game featured the host #4 seed College of the Ozarks (Mo.) cruising past #8 Lindenwood University (Mo.), 88-69. Up by 13 at the break, Ozarks opened the second half on a 22-4 run to put the game away. Heath Sitton finished with a game high 25 points on 11 of 19 shooting from the field and Michael Bonaparte added 21 points on 10 of 16 shooting for Ozarks, making its 10th tournament appearance and second championship game. Johnny Viehland led the Lions with 18 points, nine rebounds, and three blocked shots. Matt Foster (12 points) and Ryan Brown (10 points) were the only other Lions in double figures. Lindenwood, making its second tournament appearance, finishes the season with a record of 26-10.

Tuesday's championship game is a rematch of the 2000 semifinals, which Ozarks won, 83-81, to advance to its first championship game. Game time is set for 8:30 p.m. Central.

The game will be televised live nationwide by College Sports Television (CSTV). CSTV is available to approximately 65 million homes nationally on cable and satellite. The network is available on Adelphia, Charter, Comcast, Cox, and Time Warner cable systems and is also available on DirecTV. For information on CSTV availability in particular markets, consumers can log on to www.cstv.com or call their cable or satellite operator.

[Complete Bracket and Results]

Tuesday's Championship Game
#2 Huntington (Ind.) (32-5) vs. #4 College of the Ozarks (Mo.) (28-6), 8:30 p.m.

Monday's Semifinal Results:
#2 Huntington (Ind.) (32-5) def. MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) (25-11), 78-68
#4 College of the Ozarks (Mo.) (28-6) def. #8 Lindenwood (Mo.) (26-10), 88-69

Saturday's Quarterfinal Results:
MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) def. #3 Walsh (Ohio), 74-68
#8 Lindenwood (Mo.) def. #16 Mount Vernon Nazarene (Ohio), 95-86
#4 College of the Ozarks (Mo.) def. #5 Mayville State (N.D.), 80-61
#2 Huntington (Ind.) def.  #10 Morningside (Iowa), 82-70.

Second Round Scores:
#8 Lindenwood (Mo.) def. Taylor (Ind.), 74-71 OT
MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) def. Cardinal Stritch (Wis.) 66-57
#16 Mount Vernon Nazarene (Ohio) def. Embry-Riddle (Fla.) 84-78
#3 Walsh (Ohio) def. #14 Oregon Tech 81-66
#5 Mayville State (N.D.) def. Montreat (N.C.) 99-92
#4 College of the Ozarks (Mo.) def. William Jewell (Mo.) 77-76
#2 Huntington (Ind.) def. Evangel (Mo.) 104-93
#10 Morningside (Iowa) def. #7 Warner Pacific (Ore.) 71-68

Thursday First Round Scores:
Cardinal Stritch (Wis.)(25-8) def.  #11 Southwestern (Kan.)(28-4) 75-60
MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.)(23-10) def. #6 Indiana Southeast (30-4) 72-62
#14 Oregon Tech (25-8) def. Northwestern (Iowa)(23-8) 92-83
#3 Walsh (Ohio)(26-6) def. Tennessee Wesleyan (20-12) 65-50
#2 Huntington (Ind.)(29-5) def. Fisher (Mass.)(15-15) 99-58
#10 Morningside (Iowa)(27-6) def. Cornerstone (Mich.)(23-11) 87-84
#15 Evangel (Mo.)(23-10) def. Bellevue (Neb.)(24-8) 82-74
#7 Warner Pacific (Ore.)(24-8) def. Holy Names (Calif.)(23-11) 83-73

Wednesday First Round Scores:
#1 Embry-Riddle (Fla.)(30-3) def. Sterling (Kan.)(16-15) 86-55
#16 Mount Vernon Nazarene (Ohio)(26-8) def. Iowa Wesleyan (25-7) 87-81
#9 Taylor (Ind.)(28-6) def. Aquinas (Mich.)(22-12) 63-52
#5 Mayville State (N.D.)(26-5) def. Daemen (N.Y.)(20-12) 82-56
Montreat (N.C.)(22-9) def. #12 Sioux Falls (S.D.)(22-9) 93-83
#13 William Jewell (Mo.)(27-7) def. Southern Oregon (23-9) 67-64 OT
#4 College of the Ozarks (Mo.)(25-6) def. Dominican (Calif.)(18-12) 69-60
#8 Lindenwood (Mo.)(24-9) def. Dordt (Iowa)(22-10) 66-58