Top-seeded and fourth-ranked Briar Cliff rallied from as many as 13 down in the second have to win the title game of the 2016 Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) Men’s Basketball Tournament, 103-97, over second-seeded and 20th ranked Nebraska Wesleyan.
It was a back and forth contest for the majority of the night as the high-scoring affair featured 13 ties and 16 lead changes. The Chargers took the lead for good on a bucket by Bryan Forbes with 24 seconds remaining. BCU then made six free throws to seal the victory. The Prairie Wolves were led senior Trey Bardsley with 36 points, including five three-point field goals. Travis Giesselmann chipped in with 24 and Cooper Cook reached double figures with 15.
Briar Cliff had five players in double figures, led by Bryan Forbes with 25. Clay Harreld finished with 21, while a trio of Austin’s – Austin Homan (15), Austin Pohlen (12) and Austin Lefler (10) – rounded out those in double digits.
Both teams secure an automatic berth to the NAIA Men’s Division II National Tournament in Point Lookout, Missouri, at Keeter Gymnasium/College of the Ozarks. Briar Cliff garnered an automatic berth after finishing as the regular season champion, while Nebraska Wesleyan receives the automatic berth from the GPAC Tournament as the runner-up since the regular season champion (BCU) also won the tournament.
