March 13, 2008

Oklahoma Wesleyan (26-7) made 4-of-6 free throws in the final 37 seconds of the game as they held onto a 75-73 upset win over #12 William Penn in the first round of the NAIA Division II Men's Basketball Tournament.  The win is a first for Oklahoma Wesleyan in their first-ever appearance in the tournament and now has won a school record 26 games.

With the win, the Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference has gone 3-0 in the first round of the tournament.  Oklahoma Wesleyan is the second team of the tournament to knock off a seeded team with Ottawa University eliminating #8  Kings College, 70-65 in the first game of the tournament.

Down three at the half, Oklahoma Wesleyan opened the second half on a 14-4 run to take a seven-point lead, 50-43, and never relinquished the lead again.  William Penn stayed close the entire half and then tied the game at 71 with just 55 seconds remaining in the game on a three-point play by Joseph Powell.  On the ensuing possession, OWU's Sadiel Rojas was fouled with 38 seconds left and he made one of two free throws for a one-point advantage, 72-71.

With 19 seconds on the clock, William Penn turned the ball over and then fouled OWU's Steve Briggs as he made both free throws to give the Eagles a three-point lead, 74-71.  Powell put William Penn back in the position for the lead when he canned a field goal with 13 seconds left to come within one, 74-73. 

William Penn fouled OWU's Rojas immediately and Rojas made one of two free throws for the two-point lead, 75-73.  WPU's Andre Thompson tried for a game tying shot but fell short with two seconds on the clock and OWU won their first-ever tournament game.

Oklahoma Wesleyan's Steve Briggs, the MCAC Newcomer of the year, netted 20 points while teammates Murray Shaw had 14. Isaiah Peterson grabbed 10 rebounds for the Eagles.  OWU shot just 41% from the floor and 66% from the free throw line.

Joseph Powell's 34 points for William Penn leads all scorers in the tournament as he was the third player to score 30 or more points in a game.  He was the only player for WPU in double figures.  WPU shot 45% from the floor and 41% from three-point range but turned the ball over 27 times.  This was the second consecutive year that William Penn bowed out in the first round in as many seasons they have been in the tournament.  They were the Midwest Collegiate Conference Champion and end their season at 28-6.

Oklahoma Wesleyan will now meet Great Plains Athletic Tournament Champions #5 Northwestern College at 1:45 p.m. on Friday in the Sweet 16.