KANSAS CITY --- Biola used a three-point barrage and solid defense to slow down the NAIA's highest-scoring team, beating No. 4 LSU-Shreveport 71-70 to advance to the Quarterfinals of the 2011 NAIA Division I Men's Basketball National Championship on Friday night.
The Eagles survive and advance to its sixth trip to the NAIA Quarterfinals in 17 total appearances and its second-straight trip. Biola improves to 28-5 and will face Martin Methodist College (Tenn.) at 8:00 p.m. CT. The Pilots end their season at 30-4
and are now 0-3 in second-round games.
Biola forward Andrew Schroeder led the way for the Eagles with his third double-double of the season, scoring 13 points and adding 11 rebounds. Guard Nate Rakestraw scored all 12 of his points in the first half, hitting 4-of-6 from three-point range to help the Eagles get off to a hot start.
Biola hit 45 percent from the field in the first half and built up a seven-point halftime lead at 35-28. LSU-Shreveport opened the second half with a quick run to take back the lead briefly. Biola clung to a one-point lead with 9:10 left in the game, but used an 11-3 run over the next four mintues to stretch the advantage up to 63-54. The run was capped by three-point plays by Schroeder and Curtis Eatmon.
The Pilots narrowed the gap to two on an offensive rebound and putback, making it 64-62 with 1:58 to play. After Shane Mahoney hit one of two free throws to make it a three-point game, then Schroeder came up with a big steal on the other end. Dwight Gordon hit a pair of free throws to put Biola back up by five with one minute left.
LSU-Shreveport would score on a quick putback to make it a three-point game, then forced a Biola turnover a got a quick bucket on the other end and converted it into a quick bucket to make it a 67-66 game with 13.8 seconds to go. However, Gordon converted both of his free throws to amek it a 69-66 game with 9.9 seconds to go.
The Eagles then strategically fouled Isaiah Bazille with 5.7 seconds left and the LSU-Shreveport forward missed the first free throw and made the second. Gordon was then fouled again and hit both free throws to make it a four-point game with under five seconds on the clock. A last-second three-point attempt by Brance Davenport was good at the buzzer, but left the Pilots still short by one point.
LSU-Shreveport, which scored a tournament-best 106 points in its first round win and led the NAIA in scoring with a 91.2 ppg average, were held to its third-lowest point toal of the season. Davenport and Corey Bingham scored 16 points each as the Pilots five starters accounted for 67 of their 70 points.
Gordon, Rakestraw and Eatmon scored 12 points each for the Eagles, who shot 44.6 percent in the contest. LSU-Shreveport shot 42.9 percent in the contest, but the Piolts hit just 7-of-26 from three-point range.
After a solid night from the charity stripe on Thursday, Biola struggled through much the game, hitting just 4-of-12 from the line through the first 38 minutes of the game. However, the Eagles converted seven of their final eight shots from the free throw line to hold on for the win.
NAIA Game Notes:
Biola – Biola improves to 8-6 in second round games…the Eagles make their third trip to the quarterfinals in their last four tournament appearances…Biola's 10 three-point baskets is the second most this season; the year high was 11 against Point Loma Nazarene University on March 3…senior forward Andrew Schroeder records his third double-double of the season with 13 points and 11 rebounds.
LSU Shreveport – For the fourth straight season the No. 4 seed fails to reach the quarterfinals…with the loss, LSU Shreveport falls to 0-3 in second round games…the Pilots 28 first half points was their second lowest of the season; the low (23) came against Texas Wesleyan on February 14…senior guard Corey Bingham registered his 29th double figure game of the year with a team-high 16 points.
