Both Great Plains Athletic Conference men’s teams advanced with first round wins at the NAIA National Tourney in Point Lookout, Missouri, Thursday.
Briar Cliff (Iowa) raced out to a 10-1 lead and never trailed in a convincing 81-61 win over championship newcomer Washington Adventist (Md.).
Briar Cliff, now 31-3, advances to the second round for the first time since 2012 and for the second time since 2000. The Chargers are paired against No. 4 Bethel (Ind.) on Friday, March 11 for the 5:45pm tipoff.
In the second to last game of the first round, No. 5-seed Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) (23-10) def. Indiana Tech (23-10), 93-89 in OT, to advance to the second round.
Trae Bergh led all scorers with 40 points (6-of-11 from three) which marks the highest individual total in the first round so far this season. Bergh also added 10 rebounds in the contest.
Dakota Wesleyan advances to the second round and will meet No. 8-seed York (Neb.) who upset the #1 seed in the quarter bracket St. Francis (Ill.) on Thursday in the late game.
