By Scott Barker, Communications and Sports Information Intern

Point Lookout, Mo. - In game one of the 2016 NAIA Division II Men’s Basketball National Championship, Keiser (Fla.) 29-4) defeated Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) (18-11), 77-66. The Seahawks will take on either Cornerstone (Mich.) or Cincinnati Christian (Ohio) on Friday at 8:30 a.m.

In the first five minutes both teams went back and forth as Keiser held the biggest lead at four.

Over the next five minutes the Seahawks were able to open the game up with 17-3 run to give them a 23-8 lead.

The Tigers would answer back with a 13-0 run to cut the lead down to four with six minutes remaining in the half.

Keiser would answer back with a 7-0 run to end the first half.

The Seahawks shot 48 percent (15-of-31) from the field and 45 percent (5-of-11) from behind the 3-point line. Stanley Whittaker led the Seahawks with 12 points in the first half on 5-of-11 shooting.

The Tigers were 12-of-29 (41 percent) from the field and 2-of-8 (25 percent) from the 3-point arc. Olivet Nazarene were led in scoring by Zach Wagner with six points.

The Tigers started the second half on a 7-0 to trim the lead to three.

Keiser was able to get the lead back to single digits after an 11-3 run including two 3-point field goals by Andrija Sarenac.

The Tigers battled to trim the lead back down to double digits but were never able to regain the lead.

Sarenac led Keiser with 20 points on 7-of-14 shooting from the field and 6-of-12 from behind the 3-point line. Whittaker (18 points) and Brice Jenkins (17 points) were the only other Seahawks in double figures.

Tyler Crater led the Tigers with 20 points on 8-of-17 shooting from the field. Zach Wagner (14 points), Aaron Larson (12 points) and Chris Green (10 points) joined Crater in double figures.

As a team Keiser shot 49 percent (30-of-61) from the field and 11-of-25 from the 3-point line. Olivet Nazarene shot 43 percent on 28-of-64 shooting (6-of-16 from 3-point). The Tigers were also 4-of-11 from the free throw line.