March 15, 2008

Point Lookout, Mo. - Defending champion MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) returns to the Final Four for the third straight year with a 70-58 win over 10^th seed College of the Ozarks (Mo.).  The 17^th-annual event is being held at the Keeter Gymnasium on the campus of the College of the Ozarks (Mo.). 

Both teams held the lead early in the first half until Ozarks surged ahead 28-21 with seven minutes left to play. The Pioneers responded with a 7-0 run, capped off by an Austin Boots three pointer to take a 34-32 lead with 2:44 left in the half. Ozarks forward Corey Stone scored the final basket of the first half and tied the game at 34 as the team's headed to the locker room.

With Ozarks leading by three (38-35), junior Danny Hawkins sparked a 16-4 MidAmerica Nazarene run with 10 points during that span as the Pioneers surged ahead, 51-42. The host Bobcats never got closer than six the rest of the way and were held to just two points during the final three minutes of the game.

Hawkins led a balanced MidAmerica Nazarene scoring attack with 20 points. The junior made 8-of-14 field goals and also pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds. Brenton Bell scored 19 points, 14 in the first half, on 6-of-9 from the floor. The Pioneers shot 55% for the game as they continue to be one of the top shooting teams at the tournament.

College of the Ozarks was led by Corey Stone who scored 20 points, 13 in the first half. Senior Daniel Bandy, in his final game with the Bobcats, netted 17 points on 7-of-17 from the field. Ozarks struggled from the field in the second half (28%) and shot 37% for the game. The Bobcats close their season with a 27-6 record.
  
The Pioneers, seeded second in the 32-team field, advances to the Final Four with a 31-4 record. MidAmerica Nazarene will play either unseeded Grace (Ind.) or 11^th seed Oregon Tech at 8:00 pm on Monday, March 17.  The 32-team, single-elimination tournament concludes on Tuesday, March 18.