FINAL SCORE: #1 Rochester College 69, #5 Oakwood University 72

Video Box Score

Team Stats

March 3, 2016

FINAL SCORE: #1 Rochester College 69, #5 Oakwood University 72

RECORDS: Rochester College 24-6; Oakwood University 16-9

LOCATION: Penn State Fayette at Main Arena, Uniontown, PA

IN BRIEF: The fifth seeded Oakwood Ambassadors defeated the top ranked Rochester College Warriors 72-69. Oakwood shot over 50% from the floor and led for most of the contest. Rochester made a big push late in the second half, but Oakwood kept their composure and made enough big shots to hold off the Warriors and advance to the Men's Division I National Championship game for the first time since their victory in 2012.

 

ON THE COURT

  • Oakwood started the game with a hot shooting effort. The Ambassadors opened up a 23-13 lead with just over eight minutes remaining in the first half, and would hold a 39-24 advantage going into halftime.
  • After trailing by double digits for most of the second half, Rochester went on a 15-5 run to close the gap down to four with just over two minutes remaining. Five different players scored on the run including Nick Tutu who scored five of the fifteen points.  
  • Oakwood closed out the game going 5-8 from the free throw line to keep their narrow advantage. After struggling from the line during the game's first 36 minutes, Brandon Daniel made three pivotal free throws down the stretch.

BEHIND THE BOXSCORE

  • Four of Rochester's five starters finished with double digit points. Jaylen Larry led the team with 16 points and and nine rebounds. Nick Tatu and Justin Nafso each had 14 while Angelo Griffis led the team with six assists.
  • The Ambassadors' Ronnie Abrams, a First-Team All-American, had a game-high 24 points and was 7-8 from behind the arc. He contributed on the glass as well pulling down five rebounds. As a team Oakwood shot just under 60% from behind the arc and 52% from the floor.
  • The Ambassadors' bench outscored Rochester's 37-13, led by Abrams' 24 point effort as the team's first player off the bench.
  

NEXT UP

Oakwood University will advance and play in Saturday's Men's Division I National Championship game at 8:45 pm EST in the Main Arena. The Ambassadors will face third seeded Concordia College Alabama in the contest. Rochester College finishes the year 24-7 and will graduate six seniors. Returning for the Warriors next season will be First-Team All-American Angelo Griffis.