KANSAS CITY --- Biola's impressive run through 2011 NAIA Division I Men's Basketball National Championship came to and end in the quarterfinals for the second straight season as No. 5 Martin Methodist (Tenn.) came from behind to win 66-63 on Saturday night at the Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City.
The Eagles' season ends with a record of 28-6 while the RedHawks advance to the semifinals to face Pikeville (Ky.) on Monday.
Biola held a seven-point lead at the half and led by three with two minutes left in the game. But turnovers on consecutive possessions followed by three relatively easy buckets by Martin Methodist turned the lead into a deficit which Biola was unable to overcome. A last-second three-point attempt by
Curtis Eatmon missed just short as the horn sounded.
Eatmon, junior forward
David Cline and senior guard
Clay Martin finished with 12 points to lead the Eagles, who return just two players on the active roster to the team next year. Chris Leggit led the RedHawks with 16 points while James Justice and Chris Goodwin each added 15 points.
The Eagles went up 15-9 early in the contest before a 10-0 RedHawks run gave Martin Methodist a 19-15 lead. However, the Eagles responded by outscoring the RedHawks 16-5 over the final 9:37 of the half to take a 31-24 lead at the break.
Biola's solid defense was on display through the first half, taking four charges including two drawn by Josh Miller in the first minute of the game.
In the second half, Martin Methodist came out firing and outscored Biola 23-8 over the first seven minutes of the game to go up 46-39 at the 12:45 mark. About the only offense in the first part of the second half for the Eagles came from Martin, who hit two three-pointers in the opening minutes.
A bucket by Andrew Schroeder ended a three-minute drought and back-to-back blocks by Cline keyed a quick run by the Eagles who pulled to within one at 52-51 on another three by Martin. After a Martin Methodist bucket, Cline received an alley-oop on a fastbreak, dunking it home as he was fouled. He would convert the three-point play to tie the game at 54-54 with 6:16 to play.
The momentum seemed to swing one minute later as Nate Rakestraw was fouled from behind on a fast break, a foul which was whistled as intentional, giving Biola two shots and the ball. Rakestraw made one of two shots, then drained a long three to mke it a 58-56 Biola lead with 4:49 to play.
The RedHawks would turn the ball over on the ensuing possession and Dwight Gordon made them pay by hitting a runner in the lane to put Biola up four with 4:00 left.
The score would remain that way for the next minute until Justice drained a three from the wing to make it a one-point game.
Gordon answered with a slashing layup with 2:06 to play to stretch the lead back to three at 62-59. But things went south for the Eagles after that.
Ree McCrory responded with a quick layup to make it a one-point game. Martin Methodist broke out a full-court press on the Biola inbound and Gordon broke through two defenders and found a wide-open Schroeder under the basket. However, the pass with 1:51 to go was well high of the big man and possession went back to the RedHawks.
Martin Methodist would take back the lead as McCrory hit a runner in the lane to make it a 63-62 game, then forced another turnover on the other end. Jones then got a rebound on the weak-side and put it back with little opposition to give the RedHawks a 65-62 lead with 37 seconds remaining.
Eatmon was fouled on the next Biola possession, but was only able to make one of two with 28 seconds to play. Biola would foul twice to force the bonus, sending Chris Goodwin to the line for a one-and-one. He missed the front end, giving the Eagles a chance, but Gordon missed a shot in the lane with 16 seconds left.
After LaQuantis Stewart missed the second of two free throws, Biola still had one chance left down three with 13 seconds on the clock. The Eagles came right down and Eatmon took the last shot with four seconds left. But it hit off the front iron, bounced up and out as time expired.
Martin Methodist shot 52 percent in the game including 57 percent in the second half. It was only the second time this season the Eagles had allowed an opponent to shoot over 50 percent.
NAIA Game Notes:
Biola – Biola falls to 23-18 in tournament action…the loss is the Eagles second straight in quarterfinal play…Martin Methodist's 52.1 percent field goal percentage marks the first time Biola has allowed an opponent to shoot better than 50.0 percent since Azusa Pacific College (Calif.) shot 50.9 percent on February 1; 10 straight games…the Eagles tied a season-high with 11 three-point field goals…senior guard Clay Martin hit a season-best four three point baskets…Martin ended the tournament hitting 66.7 percent (6-of-9) from beyond the arc; shot 25.0 percent in the regular season…senior forward Andrew Schroeder's four rebounds give him 26 total in tournament play to rank fourth…senior guard made his 100th career start against Martin Methodist.
Martin Methodist – Martin Methodist advances to the Fab Four for the first time in six appearances…the win extends the Redhawks winning streak to seven games…Martin Methodist will face Pikeville College (Ky.) for the second time at the NAIA Basketball Championships; the Redhawks lost the first meeting, 82-72, in 2001 …the Redhawks nine three-pointers marks the seventh time this season that they have hit at least nine three-point baskets…junior guard James Justice's 15 points gives him 10 straight games in double-digits…Justice is averaging 19.0 points per game in tournament play…McCrorey's 11 points gives him a tournament average of 17.3 points per game.
