March 11, 2006

No. 4 seed College of the Ozarks (Mo.) had little trouble in its quarterfinal win over #5 Mayville State University (N.D.), taking an 80-61win to advance to the semifinals of the 15th Annual NAIA Division II Men's Basketball National Championship. The 2006 event is being held at the Keeter Gymnasium on the campus of College of the Ozarks (Mo.).

Ozarks, playing in front of an enthusiastic home crowd, took a little time to get untracked. They were clinging to a 20-17 lead, before they used an 11-2 run to go up 31-19 with 5:06 left in the first half. They held a 34-23 lead going into the lockerroom. The first minutes of the second half were similar to the first, with neither team getting much of an advantage, but the Bobcats slowly started to pull away, pushing the lead to 50-29 with 14:41 left. The Comets pulled to within 14 at the ten-minute mark, but couldn't overcome the host Bobcats to grab the win.

Ozarks, making their tenth tournament appearance and seventh straight, were led by Corey Stone's 19 points. Stone seemed to squelch every Mayville rally attempt with a timely three pointer. He finished 5 of 8 from long range. Heath Sitton added 17 points, six rebounds, and four assists. Michael Bonaparte finished with 14 points and 12 rebounds and Andrew Boyce chipped in with 12 points, five assists and five rebounds. The Bobcats shot 47% percent from the field and converted 10 of 18 three pointers. This is the furthest the Bobcats have advanced since reaching the championship game in 2000.

The Comets got 11 points from John Feggo and 10 each from Monty Rogers and Gilby Sanchez. Andy Parochka added nine points for Mayville, which was making its fifth tournament appearance and second straight. The Comets committed 22 turnovers on the night and converted just 33% of their field goal attempts. They finish the season with a record of 27-6.

Ozarks (27-6) advances to the semifinal round on Monday at 8 p.m. where they will face #8 Lindenwood (Mo.), who knocked off #16 Mt. Vernon Nazarene (Ohio), 95-86, earlier in the day. The 32-team, single elimination tournament concludes Tuesday, March 14.

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