By Eric Montgomery | NAIA Media Relations

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – (Box Score) The tandem of Cory Blau and Daniel Carlin, in addition to 54 percent shooting, led Westmont (Calif.) to a 78-66 defeat of No. 13 Mid-America Christian (Okla.) Saturday afternoon in the quarterfinal round of the 2015 Buffalo Funds-NAIA Division I Men’s Basketball National Championship in Municipal Auditorium. The Warriors will lock up with No. 1-seed Hope International (Calif.), an 74-62 winner over No. 8 Martin Methodist (Tenn.), on Monday, March 23 at 8:00 p.m.

Blau and Carlin combined for 49 points on 17-of-27 (.630) shooting, part of a torrid Westmont shooting effort in the second half.

"We looked tired in the first half, but the main thing I wanted to do was give them lots of confidence," said Westmont Head Coach John Moore. "I looked them all in the eyes and said that ‘we have played five halves and four of those have been spectacular. In this half you’re going to make it five out of six.’ They bought in and the really believed in themselves. Our tenacity in the second half was storybook. We will remember that for a long time to come.

"Cory Blau was clutch tonight. I think we got the ball to him tonight at the right spots and he really went to work. He has been special for us all season and tonight was no exception."

Another storyline was on the sidelines as Mid-America Christian coach Willie Holley (813) and coach Moore (542) have combined for more than 1,350 victories in 69 years of coaching. They both land in the active NAIA Top 25 list.

The Evangels appeared for a blow-out win in the game’s first four minutes. A pair of three’s by Brock Hunter and Semar Farris, to go along with a jumper by Josh Smith, handed Mid-America Christian an 8-0 lead. The advantage grew to as many as 14 on two occasions, the last at the five-minute mark (32-18). But, Westmont trimmed the deficit to 36-28 at the half.

The second half was the opposite story. Westmont went for 71 percent (15-of-21), while the Evangels hit a dismal 28 percent (10-of-36).

The Warriors took the lead for good on a two-point basket by Blau with 12:53 remaining. Carlin went for four-straight points and then it was Blau’s turn. The sophomore out of Laguna Niguel, Calif., scored six points during a spurt that put the game out of reach for Mid-America Christian.

The Evangels, appearing in their first-ever national championship, got to within five points late. However, Westmont made its free throws down the stretch.

In addition to Carlin and Blau’s scoring, Gerald Karczewski finished with 10 points.

Farris led four Evangels in double-figures with 15 points and six rebounds. Jerrick Massenburge added 14 points and six boards off the bench.

Mid-America Christian ends its season with a 25-11 mark.

Game Notes:
Westmont: Joins Hope International (Calif.) out of the Golden State Athletic Conference in the Fab Four and marks the first time since 1999 that two GSAC schools appeared in the semifinals… The championship final on Tuesday is guaranteed at least one GSAC school, which will be the third time in the last four years…The 20 made free throws was three shy of a season-high… Westmont will face Hope International for the third time this year – the two previous meetings have gone in favor of the Royals.

Mid-America Christian: Third lowest point total of the season… Now stands 2-5 this year when scoring 70-points or fewer… Semar Farris had five steals, which marks the third time this year of five-or-more… Farris’ 15 points kept his double-digit scoring streak alive at 15-straight games.