March 18, 2008

Point Lookout, Mo. - In a rematch of the 2004 national championship game, Oregon Tech, the 11th seed, defeated top-seeded Bellevue (Neb.) 63-56 to win their second ever national championship. The Hustlin' Owls finish their championship season with a 31-6 overall record. The 17th-annual event is being held at the Keeter Gymnasium on the campus of the College of the Ozarks (Mo.). 

The top-seeded Bruins began the game with an 8-2 run, sparked by a pair of three pointers by junior Chance Wallesen. Oregon Tech answered back with the next 14 points, led by NAIA Player-of-the-Year Ryan Fiegi with six during the run. The Hustlin' Owls led by as much as eight (26-18) before Bellevue scored the final five points of the first half to put the halftime score at 26-23. Both teams struggled from the field as Oregon Tech shot 39% while the Bruins made 29% of their field goal attempts.

The Bruins continued their comeback at the start of the second half and tied the score at 30 after a Ben Thorn three pointer with 17 minutes left. Bellevue held the lead briefly (32-30) after a basket by John Gray but a Ryan Beesley three pointer put Oregon Tech back in front (35-32). Bruin guard Matt Imig tied the game at 37 on a three pointer but the Hustlin' Owls took the lead for good with 10 minutes left to play on a 7-0 run. The Bruins made one final charge after back-to-back baskets by Jerrod Tucker cut the lead to three. Oregon Tech, however, on five straight points by Jguwon Hogges was able to hold on for the victory, 63-56. The 119 combined points matched the lowest scoring championship game in tournament history (1993-Williamette (Ore.) def. Northern State (S.D.).

Oregon Tech shot 43% for the game, 46% in the second half. Ryan Fiegi, the tournament's Most Outstanding Player, led all players with 22 points. The senior led the tournament with 112 points in the five games. Jguwon Hogges and Ryan Beesley added 14 and 10 points, respectively. Josh Wetzler pulled down 10 more rebounds to increase his tournament leading total to 56.

Bellevue shot 41% from the floor, well below their tournament average of 52%. John Gray led the Bruins with 14 points and pulled down seven rebounds in his final game. Ben Thorn came off the bench to score 10 and Hannibal Cofield added seven points and a team-high 10 rebounds. Bellevue, which lost to Oregon Tech in the 2004 championship game (81-72), ends their season at 33-4.

This is the second national championship for Oregon Tech; they also won it in 2004.