Big Second Half Pushes Northwest Christian Into Second Round
by Matt Bos, Media Coordinator
Point Lookout, Mo.--Box Score | Bracket Northwest Christian (Ore.) picked up its first ever championship win as they defeated Southwestern (Kan.) 84-69 in the first round of the 2016 NAIA Division II Men’s Basketball National Championship.
Austin Kuemper netted a game-high 22 points, 16 coming in the second half, and was one of four Beacons’ players to score in double figures. Kenny Blackwell scored 19, putting down four three-pointers, and Omar Richards came up just one rebound shy of a double-double with 16 points and nine boards. Javonte Byrd, the player of the year in the Cascade Collegiate Conference, chipped in 14 points.
Northwest Christian improved upon its school record win total, moving to 28-6 on the year. Making its second overall appearance at the championship, the Beacons will play either No. 2 Indiana Wesleyan or No. 7 Bellevue (Neb.).
Tied at 25, the Beacons closed the first half on a 10-3 run led by Blackwell who connected on five straight and Richards who knocked down a three-pointer just before the horn to give his team a 35-28 edge at the break.
Southwestern managed to cut the lead down to seven (58-51) after baskets by D.J. Wallace and Bryan Lipsey. Northwest Christian put the game away, however, with a decisive 15-2 run as the pushed the lead to as many as 20 down the stretch.
Northwest Christian blistered the nets at 68% in the second half, 53% for the game. The Beacons also controlled the boards, 33-27.
Southwestern was led by Cameron Clark, who closed his career with 19 points and nine boards. D.J. Wallace poured in 17 and Bryan Lipsey scored 12, nine coming from a trio of three-pointers. The Moundbuilders close the season with a 26-8 record.
“Give Northwest Christian a lot of credit,” commented Southwestern head coach Matt O’Brien. “We tried to change things up a couple of times when we needed a stop and they found a way to come up with a bucket almost every time. I thought as a whole, we played a good game. We knew we needed to play a great game to give our team the best chance, but we played a good game. I’m proud of each one of our guys and what they accomplished this season.”
