By Scott Barker, Communications and Sports Information Intern


POINT LOOKOUT, Mo. – (Box Score | Bracket) The first Quarterfinal matchup of the day featured No. 1-seed Saint Francis (Ind.) (32-4) defeating No. 3-seed Keiser (Fla.) (30-5), 80-53.

The Cougars jumped out to an 11-point lead after a 3-point basket by Seth Small. The basket capped off a 7-0 Saint Francis run.

The Seahawks were able to get the deficit down to two with 8:14 remaining in the half but the Cougars ended the half on a 23-6 run to lead by 19 (42-23).

In the second half the Seahawks were able to cut the lead down to 14 on a Jermaine Graves layup. The 14-point deficit was the closest Keiser would get the rest of the game.

Saint Francis ended the game on a 12-6 run to push its lead to a game-high 27 points. The Cougars defeated the Seahawks, 80-53.

The Seahawks scored a season low 53 points on 24-of-76 shooting from the field and 4-of-29 from the 3-point line. Stanley Whittaker led the team with a game-high 20 points. He added 10 rebounds in the loss. Deion McClenton was the only other Seahawk in double figures in the game with 10 points.

The Cougars had four players score in double figures – Evan Henry (18 points), Bryce Lienhoop (16 points), Kegan Comer (16 points) and Seth Small (10 points). Saint Francis finished the game shooting 46 percent from the field (31-of-67) and 45 percent (11-of-24) from the 3-point line. The Cougars had ten players score at least two points.

The Cougars advance to their third National Semifinals appearance, the first since 2011. They will take on the winner of the No. 7-seed IU East (Ind.) / No. 1-seed Briar Cliff (Iowa) game.