By Eric Montgomery | NAIA Media Relations

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – (Box Score) No. 7-seeded Pikeville (Ky.) scored five-straight points in overtime to knock off 10th-seeded Concordia (Calif.), 97-93, Friday afternoon in the second round of the 2015 Buffalo Funds-NAIA Division I Men’s Basketball National Championship. The Bears will face the winner of No. 2-seeded Talladega (Ala.) and Our Lady of the Lake (Texas) on Saturday, March 20 at 2:00 p.m.

A thrilling second round game that included 10 ties and 12 lead changes could not be decided in 40 minutes after K.K. Simmons knocked down one of two free throws with 28 seconds left to tie the game at 82-82. Matt Scott hoisted a three-point shot on the final possession of regulation, but missed the mark to force the extra stanza.

The teams traded three-point shots, followed by buckets in the paint to start overtime before Christian Leach put Pikeville in front with a free throw. The teams were tied three times down the stretch before Simmons hit two free throws with 30 seconds remaining for a 94-93 lead.

DeLaun Frazier missed a three-pointer, forcing Concordia to send Pikeville back to the free throw line. Simmons hit one of two at the stripe for a two-point cushion, and Martin Thomas turned the ball over on the ensuing possession. Jackson Hussey iced the win with two more free throws with five seconds to play.

“It really was an entertaining game, but for people invested like I was, it was pretty stressful,” said Pikeville head coach Kelly Wells. “I was really proud of our guys and the team spirit. We have a good demeanor about us right now and everyone is on the same page.”

Concordia held a 42-39 halftime lead and stretched the advantage to a game-high 10 points at the 14:49 mark of the second half after trailing by eight points with 6:26 to go in the first half. The Eagles committed 15 turnovers in the first half, but knocked down 10 of 12 free throws while forcing nine takeaways.

“Usually I am pretty devastated after losing at this event, but our guys were winners today,” said Concordia head coach Ken Ammann. “We made so many incredible plays with so much heart, and we went right at them. We went out the same way that has got us so many great memories here.”

Pikeville finished the game nine of 13 from three-point range (.692) and edged Concordia at the free throw line, 24-23, on an equal number of attempts (36). The Bears allowed 21 offensive rebounds and a 46-37 rebounding deficit, but forced 25 total turnovers that included 13 steals.

Simmons led all scorers with 28 points for Pikeville, connecting on six of nine three-point shots, while Kenny Manigault added 23 points, 10 rebounds, a career-best seven steals and five assists. Leach chipped in with 15 points and five rebounds, and Michael Eneh added 10 boards to couple with seven points.

The Eagles were led by Scott with 24 points and six rebounds, while Justin Davis poured in 13 points and grabbed five rebounds. Thomas and Lucas Simpson tallied 11 points apiece to go along with a game-high 16 rebounds from Stephen Grosey.

Concordia finished its season with a record of 27-8.

Game Notes:
Pikeville – The Bears advance to the quarterfinals for the first time since 2011 when the team captured its only national championship … Pikeville is also the first No. 7 seed since 2011 to qualify for the quarterfinal round (Georgetown, Ky.) … The 93 points allowed was the most yielded in a victory since a 113-100 win over Georgetown on Nov. 15, 2014 … The Bears entered the game leading the NAIA in turnover margin and finished plus-seven in that category.

Concordia – The Eagles fell to 26-10 all-time in the National Championship, falling in the second round for the second-straight appearance (2013) … Concordia allowed a season-high point total, matching the total allowed against Culver-Stockton (Mo.) in its 2013 second round defeat … Grosey finished the season with 425 rebounds, the second-highest single-season total in program history.