March 14, 2009

POINT LOOKOUT, Mo. - #5 Black Hill State (S.D.) earns its first ever trip to the Final Four as they hung on to defeat unseeded Grace (Ind.), 77-73. In the process, the Yellow Jackets won their 15th straight game and have not lost since Jan. 17. The 18th annual event is being held at the Keeter Gymnasium on the campus of the College of the Ozarks (Mo.).

After Grace held the early advantage (10-6), Black Hill State went on a 19-5 run to open up a 25-15 lead. Grace responded with an 8-4 run of its own to cut it to six (29-23) but Black Hills State closed the half with a 12-2 over the final five minutes to take a commanding 41-25 halftime lead. Aaron Sutton led BHSU with 10 first half points and the Yellow Jackets held Grace to just 26% from the field in the first half.

Black Hills State threatened to blow the game open in the early stages of the second half as they led by as much as 17. Much like Bellevue (Neb.) did in the first game of the day, Grace mounted a furious comeback and after a basket by Lancers forward Derek Johnson, the lead was down to two (51-49) win 10 minutes left. Moments later, Grace came all the way back to tie it at 62 before Black Hills State hit three straight three-pointers, two by guard Cain Atkinson, to cap a decisive 9-2 run which clinched the win for the Yellow Jackets.

Atkinson scored 14 of his team-high 15 points in the second half, which included a trio of three-pointers. Luke Enos scored 13 points while Aaron Sutton chipped in 12. Black Hills State shot 48% for the game and went 11-for-25 from the three-point line.

Grace was led by Derek Johnson with 17 points and six rebounds. Eric Gaff closes his brilliant career with 14 points and seven boards, breaking his string of two straight double-doubles. After struggling from the field in the first half, Grace shot 59% in the second and 42% for the game. The Lancers fall in the quarterfinals for the second straight year and end the season with a 22-11 overall record.

Black Hills State, now 30-4 on the season, advances the semifinals on Monday, March 16 where they will play either #1 Oklahoma Wesleyan or #9 Eastern Oregon. Tipoff is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. The 32-team, single elimination tournament concludes March 17, 2009 at 8:50 p.m. The final will be televised live on CBS College Sports.