POINT LOOKOUT, Mo.—(Box Score) #3 Cornerstone (Mich.) closed the first half on a 25-10 run and turned in a big second half en route to an 82-52 semifinal win over #2 Northwood (Fla.) at the 2011 NAIA Division II Men’s Basketball National Championship. The Golden Eagles advance to play in their second ever national title game and will face the defending champions, Saint Francis (Ind.), in Tuesday’s final. The 2011 event is being held at the Keeter Gymnasium on the campus of College of the Ozarks (Mo.).
In four games, Cornerstone leads the tournament field with an average of margin of victory of 26 points. The closest game was its 82-70, second round win over #14 Iowa Wesleyan.
The Golden Eagles held down one of the highest scoring teams and the top three-point shooting team in the tournament to just 52 points, the second lowest total at the championship, and just 21% from the three-point line (5/24).
Trailing by one (6-5), Cornerstone scored the next nine points to open up a 14-6 lead. Still ahead by six moments later, the Golden Eagles outscored Northwood 25-10 over the final 11 minutes to break the game open. Cornerstone limited Northwood to just four field goals during that stretch and limited the Seahawks to 1-for-11 from beyond the arc. They led 41-20 at the break.
Cornerstone scored the first five points of the second half to continue to distance themselves from the tournament’s second seed. They led by as much 37 with three minutes left and went on to record the most lopsided win in the semifinals since 1992.
The Golden Eagles shot 57% for the game, 56% from beyond the arc. Wes Hudson led all scorers with 18 points, hitting on 4-of-5 from beyond the arc. Kelvin DeVries added 14 points, also making four shots from beyond the arc. Five other players had at least six points for Cornerstone. The Golden Eagles outrebounded Northwood 37-25 and continue to be the top rebounding team at the championship.
Northwood finishes its outstanding season with a 33-4 record. They were led by Tyrone Davis with 10 points while Noah Keeton added nine.
Cornerstone improves to 33-4 on the year and will play Saint Francis tomorrow night, March15, at 9:00 p.m. (CDT). For more information about the National Championship, click here.