Point Lookout, Mo.- Box Score | Bracket   The record-breaking season continues for No. 1 Briar Cliff (Iowa) as the Chargers showed off their outstanding perimeter play with a 100-93 win over No. 4 Bethel (Ind.) in the second round of the 2016 NAIA Division II Men’s Basketball National Championship.

The Chargers improved their already school record win total to 32-3 and will play in the Division II quarterfinals for the first time in school history.

Smooth point guard Shane Graves led the way for the Chargers, scoring 19 points to go with five assists. Backcourt mates Clay Harreld and Austin Lefler poured in 18 points each while Erich Erdman contributed 17 points coming off the Chargers’ bench. Austin Homan had a big impact in the paint with 17 points and three rebounds.

It was Bethel that controlled the game early, holding its largest lead (22-11) at the 12-minute mark. An 11-2 BCU run put the Chargers right back in it, however, sparked by consecutive baskets by Homan and a three-pointer by Lefler, one of the junior’s five trifectas in the game.

Another three-pointer by Graves, followed by a long-range trey by Clayton Harreld just ahead of the halftime horn, put Briar Cliff on top, 43-35 at the break.

Three-pointers by Lefler, Graves and Harreld stretched the Chargers lead to 13 (61-48) early in the second half and another 10-2 BCU run put the top seed up 80-59 with eight minutes left.
Bethel charged back, behind full-court pressure defense and timely three-point shooting, to get within four late. Briar Cliff made just enough free throws late to hold off the rally and punch its ticket into Saturday’s quarterfinal.

Briar Cliff shot 49% for the game and made 14-of-30 three-point attempts (47%).

Pilots’ All-American guard Clay Yeo led all players with 24 points and nine rebounds and Gage Ott went 8-for-9 from the field en route to a 16-point night. Caleb Oetjen (15), Travis Smith (14) and Jordyn Coon (10) were also in double figures for Bethel. The Pilots held a commanding 40-26 edge on the glass but end the season with a 24-10 record.

Briar Cliff will play IU-East at 3pm on Saturday, March 12 in the quarterfinals.