March 19, 2008

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Mountain State University (W.Va.) outscored Olivet Nazarene University (Ill.) 13-2 in the second overtime to pull away for an 87-76 victory in the first round of the 2008 Buffalo Funds-NAIA Division I Men's Basketball National Championship Wednesday at Municipal Auditorium.

Fifth-seeded Mountain State moves to 31-2 overall and will meet unseeded Wayland Baptist University (Texas) in a second round contest Friday at 9 a.m. EST. Wayland Baptist defeated Martin Methodist College (Tenn.) 89-85 in the tournament's opening contest Wednesday morning.

Tied at 74-74 after the first overtime period, Olivet Nazarene won the tip and took a 76-74 lead on a basket by Rashad Mitchell with 4:38 on the clock. Mountain State came down on its first possession of the second overtime and grabbed the lead for good when James Spencer rattled home a three-point field goal. That sparked a 13-0 run to end the contest for the Cougars. Spencer and Jarvis Jackson combined to score all 13 points for Mountain State in the second overtime period.

Mountain State led 66-63 in the closing seconds of regulation when Tyler Wallenfang drilled a three-pointer from the top of the key with 0.4 seconds remaining to force overtime. In the first extra period, the Cougars' Adron Marshall hit one of two free throws with 33 seconds on the clock to give Mountain State a 74-73 lead. Olivet Nazarene worked the ball inside to Wallenfang, who was fouled with 6.4 seconds to play. Wallenfang made one of two foul shots to tie the game once again a 74-74. The Tigers then forced a turnover as time expired to set up the second overtime.

Jackson led all scorers with 24 points for Mountain State, while Spencer finished with 23 points and four steals. Marshall collected a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds, and Ermin Tarcin came off the bench to add 13 points and nine rebounds.

All five starters scored in double figures for Olivet Nazarene, which ends its season with an overall record of 17-15. Wallenfang and Phil French each scored a team-high 16 points, while French grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds. Josh Bronke chipped in with 13 points, and Ryan Paxson had 12 points and a game-high five assists for the Tigers.