March 8, 2006

Ninth-seed Taylor University (Ind.) defeated Aquinas College (Mich.) 63-52 in the first round of the 15th Annual NAIA Men's Basketball National Championship. The 2006 event is being held at the Keeter Gymnasium on the campus of College of the Ozarks (Mo.).

Taylor led 25-18 at the intermission and extended their lead to ten, 33-23, on a three pointer by senior guard Eric Ford with 14:44 left in the contest. On that basket, Ford surpassed 2,000 points in his four-year career with the Trojans. Aquinas outscored Taylor 9-2 over the next four minutes to cut the lead down to three, 35-32. Over the next seven minutes, the Trojans lead would fluctuate between four and six points. Aquinas cut the lead to three, 50-47, with 2:52 left, but Taylor overcame the upset bid with a 10-5 run to end the game and get the double digit win.

Taylor, making their fourth consecutive national tournament appearance and seventh overall, was led in scoring by the senior inside-outside tandem of Doug Bell and Eric Ford. Bell netted a game-high 20 points while Ford scored 19. Both players pulled down six rebounds. The Trojans shot 42% from the field, 14% (2/14) from beyond the arc and 74% from the foul line. Taylor, who leads the NAIA Division II in scoring defense, continued their defensive mastery, as they limited Aquinas to just 39% shooting from the field.

Aquinas was led by senior Derek Douglas with 14 points and seven rebounds. James Tellman added nine points in the loss. The Saints, one of two teams from the Wolverine-Hoosier Conference (Cornerstone University), were making their first appearance at the national tournament. They received one of the nine at-large bids and close their season with a 22-12 record.

Taylor (28-6) advances to the second round for the first time since 1994 and will play the winner of Dordt and Lindenwood scheduled to tipoff at 9:45 pm this evening. The 32-team, single elimination tournament concludes Tuesday, March 14.

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