March 12, 2008

College of the Ozarks pulled away from Indiana-Southeast in the second half en route to a 91-82 win at the 2008 NAIA Division II Men's Basketball National Championships. The event is being held at the Keeter Gymnasium on the campus of College of the Ozarks (Mo.).

 

In a very tight first half, the host Bobcats held an eight point lead (36-28) with five minutes to play after junior guard Corey Stone scored five straight Ozark points. Indiana-Southeast cut the lead down to one, 41-40 and trailed by just three at the half.

 

With College of the Ozarks up one (60-59), the Bobcats took charge with an 11-2 run midway through the second half and kept a double-digit lead until the very end.

 

Five Ozark players were in double figures, led by Corey Stone with 21 points. Both Colt Blair and Jared Howerton netted 13 while Chris Pullen just missed a double-double with 10 points and nine rebounds.

Indiana-Southeast was led in scoring by Jazzmarr Ferguson with 18 points. Carlos Mitchell added 13 points and four rebounds. The Grenadiers, who have no seniors and just one junior on their roster, end their season with a 24-9 overall record.

 

College of the Ozarks improves to 26-5 overall and will play seventh-seed Eastern Oregon in the second round on Friday, March 14 at 7:30 p.m. The 32-team, single elimination tournament concludes Tuesday, March 18.