2017 NAIA Division II Men's Basketball National Championship: Day 2
Day two of the 2017 NAIA Division II Men’s Basketball National Championship got off to a dramatic start in the 8:30 AM game. The Cramer bracket got off to a wild start with the matchup between #4 Northwestern and #5 Washington Adventist. The game down to the final 2 shots. With 6.3 seconds left in regulation, Colton Kooima hit a fadeaway jumper from the block to give Northwestern a 78-76 lead. Eric Lindsey had a chance to be a hero for Washington Adventist but his deep 3 at the buzzer missed off the right side of the rim. Northwestern College survives and advances on to the second round. Indiana Wesleyan moves onto the second round with a 100-87 win over Corban. Indiana Wesleyan and Northwestern will play on Friday at noon.
In the second game of the day in the Cramer bracket got underway at 10:15 AM. Robert Morris defeated West Virginia Tech 86-81. In the 1:45 game, Tabor shocked the #3 seed Davenport 78-70. Lance Carter lead Tabor while playing all 40 minutes throughout the game. Carter talled 19 points and 13 rebounds while dishing out 7 assists. Tabor will move onto the second round to battle the #2 seed Robert Morris on Friday at 1:45 PM.
In the Duer Bracket, #4 seed Eastern Oregon ended up winning at the last-second over IU Southeast 92-90. Eastern Oregon trailed by 11 at halftime, but battled back throughout the second half. Eastern Oregon tied an all-time NAIA Championship record by sinking seventeen three-pointers throughout the contest. Eastern Oregon was lead by Bryan McGriff with a tournament-best 33 points throughout the contest.
The #7 seed York upset the #2 seed Rochester by a score of 82-73. 5 players scored in double figures, lead by Keith Mack and Cameron Coleman who both had 21. This game also featured an almost 25 minute several weather delay. There was a tornado warning issued for Point Lookout, Missouri by the National Weather Service.
Bethel College and Calumet College were supposed to tip-off around 7:30, but due to the weather delay and the continuation of the York vs. Rochester, the game did not begin until 8:40. Bethel had no problem with waiting as they proceeded to demolish Calumet 104-78. 6 different Pilots scored in double-figures, including 2 off the bench. Gage Ott lead all scorers with 19 points while Caleb Oetjen, Gage Ott, and Clay Yeo all had 15.
Bethel will face the winner of the Briar Cliff vs Bellevue game, which is currently underway. At halftime (11:27 PM local time), Bellevue currently holds a 43-40 lead. The second round game will take place on Friday at 4 PM.
-Jon Opiela, @jonopiela24
