Point Lookout, Mo.- Box Score | Bracket Behind a 17-point, 12-rebound effort by All-American Austin Fox, Saint Francis (Ind.)moved into Saturday’s quarterfinal with an 89-82 win over Mount Mercy (Iowa) in a second round match-up played at the 2016 NAIA Division II Men’s Basketball National Championship.

Saint Francis matched its school record, earning its 31st win and improving to 31-4 on the year. The Cougars reach the quarterfinals for the second straight and sixth overall season. USF improved its record to 6-0 in second round games.

A 15-5 run to start the game put Saint Francis on top for good as the Cougars led by as many as 16 in the first half. Bryce Lienhoop and Fox dominated play inside for USF, who combined for 19 points and 16 rebounds in the opening 20 minutes.

Down by 14 early in the second half, Mount Mercy guard Tre Wagner electrified the crowd with three consecutive three-pointers for his team as the Mustangs went on a 9-2 run to make it a seven-point game, 63-56, at the 8:20 mark.

A nine-point game moments later, Saint Francis stepped it up on the defensive end, holding Mount Mercy without a field goal for over four minutes as the Cougars pulled away to a 16-point advantage with under two minutes left.

“Our defense was exceptional today,” said USF head coach Chad LaCross. “I thought (Mount Mercy) had to work for everything they got. It was a great team effort.”

Saint Francis shot 48% for the game and had five players score in double figures for the balanced Cougars’ offense. Kegan Comer and Evan Henry paced USF’s perimeter attack with 18 points each while Fox (17 points) and Lienhoop (17) handled the work inside. Henry knocked down four three-pointers and in doing so matched the school’s single season record (104). The Cougars held a commanding edge on the glass, outrebounding Mount Mercy a 48-26 margin.

“It’s huge, really a big deal, everybody is excited,” said USF guard Kegan Comer regarding return to quarterfinals. “Coming in as the No. 1 team in the nation, everybody has your name at the top of the list, so we’re excited to be back and want to keep it going.”

Alex Houston poured in a game-high 22 points in his final game in a Mustangs’ uniform. Wagner netted 13 of his 16 points in the second half and Ben Struss scored 10. Mount Mercy closes the year with a 26-8 overall record.

No. 1 Saint Francis will play No. 3 Keiser (Fla.) in the first quarterfinal game on Saturday, March 12, in a match-up between two 30+ win teams.