Statesmen to Open Nationals Against KCAC Tourney Champ McPherson
William Penn University Athletics
Oskaloosa–The top team in the land will take on a hot squad fresh off three upsets as the William Penn men’s basketball team opens the NAIA Division II Men’s Basketball National Championships against McPherson (Kan.) next Wednesday.
The top-seeded Statesmen (30-1) will face off against the#32 seed Bulldogs (15-17) at 1:45 p.m. The full bracket can be found at http://www.naia.org/fls/27900/1NAIA/SportsInfo/Championships/2013DIIMBB/2013_DIIMBB_Bracket.pdf?DB_OEM_ID=27900
The winner then faces the winner of the #16 Embry-Riddle (Fla.)/#17 Bethel (Ind.) contest on Friday at noon.
The Championships are again held in Point Lookout, Mo., in Keeter Gymnasium on the campus of College of the Ozarks, from March 6-12.
The Statesmen, the top overall seed, are winners of the Midwest Collegiate Conference regular season and tournament titles. The Bulldogs entered the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament as the #8 seed, but upset three teams en route to the automatic bid-earning title.
All of William Penn’s games at the Championships will be broadcast on KBOE Radio and webstreamed on KBOE’s website at http://client.stretchinternet.com/client/kboe.portal#
Fans can also pay to watch the games online at https://www.nmnathletics.com//subs/Landing.dbml?&&DB_OEM_ID=27900&db_oem_id=27900 The per-day option costs $9.95, while the entire tournament (through the semifinals) can be purchased for $29.95. The championship game will be televised on CBS Sports Network.
Game tickets are available by calling 417-335-NAIA (6242).
#1 overall seed William Penn–John Henry, in his 12th season, is leading the Statesmen to their fourth NAIA Nationals appearance and second in a row (0-3 all-time).
William Penn is led by Midwest Collegiate Conference Player of the Year Brandon Beasley (Sr., Indianapolis, Ind., Physical Education), who is averaging 18.8 points and 8.7 rebounds. Fellow first-teamer Keith Steffeck (Sr., Marion, Iowa, Physical Education) and honorable-mentions Kevin Fay (Jr., Hennepin, Ill., Physical Education) and Blake Walker (Jr., Rose Garden, Ga., Physical Education) have been major assets to the squad’s record-breaking season. Five players, including the four aforementioned and Taylor Stoutner (Sr., Keota, Iowa, Physical Education), are averaging double figures.
The nation’s highest-scoring and highest-rebounding team has outscored opponents 95.6-71.8 and has outrebounded them 48.0-37.4. The Statesmen are shooting 47.9% overall, including a 38.5% clip from beyond the arc. William Penn is hitting 65.3% from the line.
The Statesmen have won a school-record 16 games in a row.
#32 overall seed McPherson–Tim Swartzendruber, in his fifth season, has the Bulldogs back to nationals for the third year in a row. McPherson advanced to the Final Four last season (33-4 record) and the Elite Eight the year before that.
The Bulldogs have won three in a row and four of their last five. The squad is led by third-team all-KCAC selection Samson Shiver (15.2 points) and honorable-mention pick Adam Bruner (11.2 points).
McPherson has been outscored by its opponents 72.1-70.1, but is outrebounding them 39.6-36.8. The team is shooting 40.7% from the floor, including 30.4% from beyond the arc. The Bulldogs are strongest at the line with a 70.3% clip.
Additional Tournament Information
The Clarion Hotel at the Palace has been selected as William Penn’s host hotel. The NAIA encourages fans to stay at their team’s host hotel.
Clarion Hotel at the Palace
2820 W Highway 76
Branson, MO 65616
Phone: 800-725-2236 or 417-334-7666
Other hotels include:
Grand Country Inn – 800-356-4336
Grand Oaks – 800-553-6423
Grand Plaza Hotel – 800-850-6646
Outback Roadhouse Motel – 800-562-0622
Comfort Inn at Thousand Hills- 877-335-4727
Baymont Inn & Suites – 417-334-1985
Hotel Grand Victorian – 800-324-8751
Quality Inn & Suites – 800-826-0368
Radisson Hotel – 800-566-5290
For additional housing information, call Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce Convention & Visitors Bureau at 800-214-3661.
An Opening Banquet will be held at the Dixie Stampede on Tuesday, March 5 at 6 p.m. for a price of $45.75 for adults and $25.66 for children. For tickets, call 800-520-5101.
Official photos can be purchased from Brian Beard and CIPhotography at http://www.ciphotography.com/NAIA.html?DB_OEM_ID=27900
Official DVDs can be purchased from Matt Grindstaff, Edit Access by calling 417-839-1314
All other information is also available at http://www.naia.org//SportSelect.dbml?&&DB_OEM_ID=27900&SPID=100399&SPSID=646849
