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Semi-Final Game #1 South-Central Regional
Southwest Baptist 74
Dallas Baptist 68

D'Ante Harris (14) led Southwest Baptist with 18 points and six assists

Southwest Baptist University (26-4) earned a trip to the NCAA-II South Central Regional title game with a 74-68 win over Dallas Baptist here tonight.  The Bearcats led start to finish, but it wasn’t easy.

Dallas Baptist (24-7) missed its first seven shots, and hit just 1-of-15 to start the game.  What is more, the Patriots misfired on their first three three-point attempts, after coming into the game leading D-II in three-point shooting.  But Southwest Baptist was not much better, hitting just 3-of-10, all three baskets coming from beyond the arc. 

After the 12-minute media timeout the Bearcats began moving the ball around the perimeter, lulling Dallas Baptist and then firing inside for easy baskets.  As a result, SBU led by 11 midway through the opening stanza. 

The Patriots, though, went on a 16-6 run over the final 8:27 to pull within three, 31-28 at the intermission.  They did so by forcing eight SBU turnovers and out-rebounding the Bearcats 7-to-2 on the offensive glass.  Southwest Baptist hit 5-to-2 advantage at the charity stripe, and as a result maintained the halftime advantage.

The second half saw run after run.  After trailing by 10, 44-34, with just under 14 minutes to play, Dallas Baptist went on a 7-0 run, capped by Bryan Baumann’s jumper with 12:34 to play.  But Southwest Baptist took off on a 6-0 run of its own, highlighted by a pair of Johnnie Harris layups. 

Back came the Patriots to close within three yet again, 50-47 with 9:37 remaining.  But try as it might, that is as close as DBU would come.

Matt Rogers (#31 at left) just missed a triple-double for SBU with 16 points, 14 rebounds and eight blocked shots.  Harris also had a double-double, going for 15 points and 10 boards, while D’Ante Harris had 18 points and six assists.

For Dallas Baptist, Jordan McGowen led four players in double figures with 20 points.  Eddie Gloviak tacked on 14, and Bryan Baumann and Braxton Adamson had 13 and 12, respectively. 

Dallas Baptist actually hit five more baskets than SBU, 28-to-23 (including one more trey), but the Bearcats were 20-for-28 from the free throw line, compared to 3-for-11 free throw shooting for Dallas Baptist.  That was the difference in the game.

 

Southwest Baptist advances to Tuesday’s championship game to take on the winner of the Midwestern State University-University of Central Missouri contest.  Tip-off for the title clash is at 7 p.m.

(Photo's by Dave Kopp)
See more photo's by Dave Kopp