March 20, 2008

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Eric Palm shot over 60 percent from the field, tallying 29 points to lead No. 11 McKendree (Ill.) to a 73-71 victory against Texas Wesleyan in the first round of the 2008 Buffalo Funds-NAIA Division I Men's Basketball National Championship at Municipal Auditorium.

Texas Wesleyan jumped out to an 8-0 start, assisted by two three-pointers from Kennith Gober. But McKendree answered back with a 13-2 run to take a 13-10 lead with just over five minutes into play.

The Bearcats shot 53.6 percent from the field in the first half. Eric Palm made a three-pointer as the buzzer sounded to provide McKendree a 41-38 halftime lead. Palm helped McKendree gain some breathing room in the second half, scoring the first five points of the half.

Texas Wesleyan moved within a possession of McKendree with 50 seconds remaining off a three-pointer from Dalane Finley. Fred Eshon grabbed a steal on the ensuing McKendree possession with 29 seconds left, but the Rams missed two field goals before losing the ball having to foul.

McKendree moves to 27-6 with its eighth straight win this season. The Bearcats face the winner of Campbellsville (Ky.) and Concordia (Calif.) at 2:15 p.m. CST Friday in the second round. Texas Wesleyan ends the 2007-08 season at 19-11.

Finley scored 17 points off the bench, helping Texas Wesleyan outscore McKendree's bench 23-5. Dane Dmitrovic led the Rams with 20 points, scoring 14 in the first half. Aaron Scott led Texas Wesleyan with six rebounds.

Palm's 29 points is the second best individual performance among tournament participants so far and it's his ninth straight game with double-digit points. Eric Hobbie recorded his second straight double-double performance with 17 points and a game-high 10 rebounds.

NAIA
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) is the governing body for athletics programs at its nearly 300 colleges and universities throughout the United States and Canada. The long-held mission of the NAIA is to promote the education and development of well-rounded students and productive citizens through intercollegiate athletics. The association offers equitable access and opportunities for participation in its 23 national championship events held annually throughout the country.

Today, the NAIA strengthens its commitment to student-athletes and strives to enrich their college experience by supporting academic achievement and character development. NAIA Champions of Character is the association's innovative flagship program designed to instill character values in student-athletes, coaches and youth in the communities it serves.