By Stan Caldwell
stanmansportsfan.com
It has become a history-making trip of epic proportions for the William Carey University men’s basketball team.
The Crusaders overcame an 18-point deficit in the first half and rallied for a 102-98 overtime victory over the University of Science and Arts (Okla.) Saturday in the quarterfinal round of the NAIA Men’s Basketball Championships at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo.
Carey (25-9), ranked 14th in the latest NAIA poll, advanced to the NAIA Final Four for the first time in school history and will play top-ranked Georgetown (Ky.) in the national semifinals at 6 p.m. Monday. Georgetown stopped Arizona Christian 80-78 in another quarterfinal game.
“I’m exhausted and emotional right now,” said William Carey coach Steve Knight in a postgame interview with naia.org. “I’ve been coaching a long time, and to finally get to the Final Four is unbelievable.”
Science and Arts (22-11) played the late game in Friday’s second round, a game that was not completed until well after midnight on Saturday. But it didn’t seem to affect the Drovers, who were sizzling-hot from 3-point range.
USAO converted 10 of 20 shots in the first half, and 17 of 35 for the game. To respond, the Crusaders had to make it a 3-point shooting contest, and they were successful, making 18 of 42 from beyond the arc.
“They shot lights out, and got us in a hole early,” Knight said. “But we fought back. It was unbelievable the heart our guys showed.”
Carey led at 2-0 for its only lead until late in the game, but Science and Arts quickly took command with a 7-2 run to take an 11-7 lead, and the Drovers quickly made it 22-12, as they made 5 of their first 9 shots from downtown.
USAO led 37-19 with 7:57 to play in the first half, but Carey closed to within 11 points at halftime, trailing 51-40 after freshman Dalen Dotson swished a trey at the buzzer.
The Crusaders chipped away at the lead in the second half, cutting the margin to five, 66-61 with 9:27 to play on a shot by junior Javontae McDavid.
However, the Drovers seemed to be pulling away when they built a 13-point lead, 81-68, with 5:09 remaining.
But Carey responded by finishing regulation with an 18-5 run.
Junior Brandon Cranford hit a 3-pointer, then senior Branden Shepperd got a steal and junior Cameron Douglas hit another trey, one of three in three attempts for the 6-4 swingman.
“They played the late game last night, and we thought the defensive pressure might get to their legs in the last 10 minutes,” said Knight. “Then when it got to overtime, it was everything an Elite Eight game should be.”
McDavid and Cranford each had 3-pointers, and senior Leito Holloway got a fast-break layup after another steal by Shepperd to tie the game 86-86 with 56 seconds to play. Holloway had a chance to give Carey the win at the buzzer, but his shot was off the mark.
In overtime, USAO regained the lead, and took a four-point lead, 93-89, with 3:28 to play before Carey rallied one final time.
Douglas put back his own miss to cut the margin to 93-91, but the Drovers regained the four-point lead, 95-91, on another made basket before Carey went on a 9-0 run to take over.
Douglas came through with another 3-pointer and Dotson nailed a trey to put the Crusaders ahead for good, 97-95, with 56 seconds to play. Shepperd was 1 of 2 from the foul line and Dotson converted a pair of free throws with 18 seconds to play.
USAO made its final 3-pointer with 12 seconds remaining to stay in the game, 100-98, and the Drovers still had a chance when Cranford was 1 of 2 from the line with 10 seconds to play.
But a final 3-point attempt was no good, and senior Adrian Williams got the defensive rebound, was fouled and made one of the free throws with one second remaining to seal the victory.
McDavid came off the bench to lead Carey with 21 points. Douglas finished with 19 points and 7 rebounds, Cranford had 16 points off the bench on 5 of 9 shooting from 3-point range, Shepperd grabbed 13 rebounds, and Dotson finished with 8 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists.
Carey’s depth proved decisive, as the Crusaders dominated bench points 55-9.
Cameron Hines had 21 points to lead Science and Arts.
“I’m happy for our guys,” said Knight. “We were able to survive and advance to Monday. Thanks to everyone back home. We appreciate the support.”
NAIA Men’s Basketball Championships
At Municipal Auditorium, Kansas City, Mo.
Scores/Schedule
First round
Wednesday
Bethel (Tenn.) 77, John Brown (Ark.) 57
Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) 71, Campbellsville (Ky.) 70
LSU-Shreveport 83, William Jessup (Cal.) 65
LSU-Alexandria 81, Central Baptist (Ark.) 74
Georgetown (Ky.) 77, Rocky Mountain (Mont.) 57
William Penn (Iowa) 69, Vanguard (Cal.) 53
Loyola-New Orleans (La.) 68, Missouri Baptist 67
Arizona Christian 81, Wayland Baptist 73
Thursday
Pikeville (Ky.) 69, Talladega (Ala.) 65
Wiley (Texas) 68, Cumberlands (Ky.) 56
Carroll (Mont.) 71, St. Thomas-Houston (Texas) 65
Oklahoma City 101, Stillman (Ala.) 84
Mid-America Christian (Okla.) 73, Tougaloo 64
William Carey 95, Peru State (Neb. )89
Benedictine (Kan.) 90, Westmont (Cal.) 85
Sciences and Arts (Okla.) 78, The Masters, Cal. 75
Second round
Friday
Carroll (Mont.) 80, Oklahoma City 69
LSU-Alexandria 78, Bethel (Tenn.) 73
Georgetown (Ky.) 82, LSU-Shreveport 79
Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) 88, William Penn (Iowa) 86
Arizona Christian 83, Loyola-New Orleans (La.) 77
William Carey 62, Mid-America Christian (Okla.) 60
Pikeville (Ky.) 83, Benedictine (Kan.) 78, 2 OT
Science and Arts (Okla.) 76, Wiley Texas 63
Quarterfinals
Saturday
William Carey 102, Science & Arts (Okla.) 98 (OT)
Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) 80, LSU-Alexandria 74
Georgetown (Ky.) 80, Arizona Christian 78
Carroll (Mont.) 72, Pikeville (Ky.) 56
Semifinals
Monday
6 p.m. – William Carey (25-9) vs. Georgetown, Ky. (31-4); 8 p.m. – Lewis-Clark State, Idaho (30-6) vs. Carroll, Mont. (28-7).
Championship
Tuesday
8 p.m. – Carey/Georgetown winner vs. Lewis-Clark State/Carroll winner.
Carey Basketball Summary
NAIA Men’s National Tournament
Saturday at Municipal Auditorium, Kansas City, Mo.
William Carey 102, Science and Arts (Okla.) 98 (OT)
USAO 51 35 12 – 98
WCU 40 46 16 – 102
SCIENCE & ARTS (22-11): Geno Artison 19 (9 rebounds), Dedrian Parmer 19 (8 rebounds), Cameron Hines 21, Clay Long 12, Stephon Hall 18 (7 assists), Hutch Peterson 5, Emanuel Gatkek 4. TOTALS – FG 34-67 (3FG 17-34), FT 13-19 (98).
WILLIAM CAREY (25-9): Branden Shepperd 9 (13 rebounds), Adrian Williams 5, Dalen Dotson 8 (8 rebounds, 7 assists), Ryan McRaney 6, Cameron Douglas 19 (7 rebounds), Brandon Cranford 16, Leito Holloway 6, Rodney Mallett 7, Marques McGee 3, Javontae McDavid 21, Jartavius Dobbs 2. TOTALS – FG 35-85 (3FG 18-42), FT 14-23 (102).
