March 22, 2008

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - No. 8 seed Mountain State University (W.Va.) dominated the final 20 minutes of play to pull away for a 72-51 win against No. 13 Azusa Pacific University (Calif.) in the quarterfinal round of the 2008 Buffalo Funds-NAIA Division I Men's Basketball National Championship Saturday at Municipal Auditorium.

In a battle of the Cougars, Mountain State outscored Azusa Pacific 40-19 in the second half to become the first team to qualify for the NAIA Fab Four. Mountain State posted its seventh consecutive win to move to 33-2 on the year. In Monday's 6:45 p.m. CST national semifinal contest, Mountain State will meet either top-seeded Georgetown College (Ky.) or No. 8 seed Robert Morris College (Ill.).

Senior guard James Spencer scored a game-high 20 points and grabbed nine rebounds to lead the way for Mountain State. Senior guard Jarvis Jackson added 17 points while senior guard Adron Marshall connected for 15 points with seven rebounds. Both Spencer and Jackson scored 12 points in the second half as Mountain State shot 50 percent over the final 20 minutes. Azusa Pacific was limited to just 25.9 percent shooting (7-of-27) in the second half by Mountain State.

Azusa Pacific led for most of the first half, building a 30-23 advantage on a three-pointer by sophomore guard Mike Danielian with 4:13 left in the period. Mountain State closed the half on a 9-2 run to tie the game at 32-32 heading into the break.

After Azusa Pacific freshman guard Mike Caffese hit a three-pointer on the first possession of the second half for a 35-32 advantage, Mountain State took control. Spencer hit three-pointers to start and close a 14-0 run to give Mountain State a 46-35 lead. That run was part of a 21-3 stretch that put Mountain State ahead by a score of 53-38 with 12:26 to play. Mountain State led by as many as 25 points in the second half to record the win.

Danielian led Azusa Pacific with 13 points, while senior forward Davon Roberts closed out his career with 10 points and a team-high six rebounds. Azusa Pacific, which ends its season at 24-11 overall, was making its fourth consecutive appearance in the NAIA quarterfinal round.

 

GAME NOTES -

Mountain State:

        *First NAIA national semifinal appearance since 2004 when the Cougars won the Division I championship

        *Avenged 82-66 loss to Azusa Pacific in 2005 tournament quarterfinal round

        *Outscored Azusa Pacific 40-19 in the second half

        *James Spencer scored at least 20 points for the third straight game and 28^th time in 2007-08

Azusa Pacific:

        *Had runs of seven and nine consecutive points in the first half

        *Held largest lead at 30-23 with 4:13 left in the first half

        *Mike Danielian scored all 13 of his points in the first half

        *Held to second-lowest point total of 2007-08 season (49 points vs. Biola on March 3)

        *Was making its fourth consecutive NAIA Tournament quarterfinal appearance

        *Held largest lead at 30-23 with 4:13 left in the first half

        *Mike Danielian scored all 13 of his points in the first half

        *Held to second-lowest point total of 2007-08 season (49 points vs. Biola on March 3)

        *Was making its fourth consecutive NAIA Tournament quarterfinal appearance