March 10, 2010

 

POINT LOOKOUT, Mo. (Box Score)- DeJovaun Sawyer-Davis knocked down a go-ahead three-pointer with two seconds left to go to give the #15 University of Saint Francis an 86-83 win over Black Hills State (S.D.) in the opening round of the 2010 NAIA Division II Men's Basketball National Championship. The 2010 event is being held at the Keeter Gymnasium on the campus of College of the Ozarks (Mo.).

Trailing by three, 83-80, Black Hills State guard Cain Atkinson hit a three-pointer from the right wing to tie it with 25 seconds to go. After a USF timeout, the Cougars worked the clock down to the final seconds when Sawyer-Davis knocked down the game-winner from 26-feet with two ticks left on the clock.

The first half featured a game of runs with Black Hills State jumping out to a 10-4 lead until 12 straight points scored by Saint Francis gave the Cougars their first lead. The Yellow Jackets tied the game at 22 and grabbed a 37-33 lead before another USF run put the game in the Cougars favor, 42-37.

The second half was close throughout with five ties and six lead changes. Black Hills State held the largest lead of the second half, 71-65, but USF came back with an 11-5 run spurt to tie the game at 76. The teams exchanged baskets down the stretch, setting up the heroics of Sawyer-Davis.

"Black Hills State was really helping on the dribble penetration," commented Saint Francis head coach Jeff Rekeweg. "They helped on the drive and that left DeJovaun open. If there is anyone we want shooting the basketball in that situation its DeJovaun."

Sawyer-Davis netted a career-high and 2010 tournament best 43 points, 10 shy of the all-time tournament record of 53 set by Steve Smith (Saint Francis) in 2000. The junior went 14-for-21 from the floor and a perfect 10-for-10 from the foul line. He also pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds. Qudr Owens added 15 points for the Cougars, who held a 35-26 advantage on the glass.

Black Hills State was led by Luke Enos who scored 26 points before fouling out with five minutes left to play.Craig Von Allman scored 15 points and Will Johnson added 12 points and eight rebounds. Black Hills State, a 2009 Final Four team, ends the season with a 21-10 mark.

Saint Francis moves on to the second round for the first time since 2000 where they will play either #2 Oregon Tech or Judson (Ill.) on Friday, March 12 at 4:00pm. The Cougars join Bethel (Ind.) as the second team from the Mid-Central Conference to advance to the Sweet Sixteen. The 32-team, single elimination tournament concludes March 17, 2009.