Spirit To Face Oklahoma Wesleyan For Final 16 Spot

3/7/2023 7:18:00 PM

It's the thing that makes playing basketball in late March so special - Fantastic Finishes. It's also what can turn a Cinderella into a household name and make a standout player reach legendary status. For the seventh-seeded OUAZ Men's basketball squad and their all-conference forward Josiah De'laCerda, their NAIA Tournament first round game on Tuesday afternoon against 10th-seed Baker University (Kan.) provided the perfect setting for an unbelievable show.

The game was physical and neither team could build a substantial lead. The Spirit, which trailed early by eight, fought back to hold a 32-31 halftime edge. Though OUAZ was able to tie the game five times in the second half, Baker always seemed to find a way to stay a basket or two ahead. Matter of fact, Baker held a 68-64 lead with :26 left to play when De'laCerde hit two free throws to pull the Spirit within a bucket. With :21 left in regulation, Baker missed a pair of free throws and the Spirit played for the last shot as De'laCerda connected on a layup with :08 showing to send the game into OT.

In overtime, OUAZ built it's largest lead of the game (three points) at 77-74 at 1:48, however, Baker guard Jalen Patterson, who scored eight of the 10 BU overtime points, nailed a falling-down jumper to put Baker in front 78-77 with :02 left. Taking the ball out under its own basket, OUAZ needed a "March Miracle" in order to advance. Alex Villi threw a long pass to McKay Bundy who immediately deflected it to De'laCerda who nailed a NBA three at the horn. Long live the legend!

De'laCerda finished with a game high 27 points and 10 rebounds for the Spirit, while Kolten Hitt added 16 and Alex Villi notched 15. De'laCerda and Hitt connected on 17-of-26 shots from the field, 5-of-11 three's and 8-of-9 free throws. The rest of the team was just 7-of-33 from the field.

What's Next
Now the Spirit will play 2nd-seeded Oklahoma Wesleyan today at 3 pm CT. Oklahoma Wesleyan advanced by beating Concordia University 72-70. The winner will punch their ticket to to the 85th Annual NAIA Men's Basketball National Championship March 13-18, 2023 in Kansas City, MO. OUAZ is currently 22-9 overall, riding a four game win streak and is a sizzling 8-1 this season in neutral site games. OWU is 27-4 on the year and ranked 7th in the final coaches poll in late February.

How To Watch
The KCAC will be streaming all of the NAIA Opening Round games on the KCAC Network. Each stream will be $9.99.

Live Stats - https://naiastats.prestosports.com/sports/mbkb/2022-23/boxscores/20230307_rgcx.xml

Spirit In The NAIA Tournament
This is just the second time OUAZ has made an appearance in the NAIA National Championship Tournament and now hold a 2-1 record. Last year playing in Idaho, the Spirit beat Tennessee Southern 90-67 in the first round. The next day, the Spirit faced the College of Idaho on its home floor and dropped a 57-52 decision.

Spirit Head Coach Matt Keeley
In six years as the head basketball coach at OUAZ, Matt Keeley has shown why he was the right person to be the first (and only) leader of this program. He was named the head coach of the Spirit men's basketball program in April 2017 and ever since all OUAZ has accomplished is win back-to-back Golden State Athletic Conference Tournament titles (2022 & 2023), make two straight appearances in the NAIA National Championship Tournament and reached the NCCAA National Championship game (2021).

As head coach he has guided the Spirit to a 91-77 (.541) overall record, but more recently (last two years), his Spirit squads are 46-19 (.707) and became the first to post consecutive 20-win seasons. In postseason action (conference and NAIA tournaments), he is 11-2 (.846) record, including a current four-game win streak.

He is also a two-time (2021 & 2022) NCCAA West Region Coach of the Year and postseason accolades have become standard practice with three NCCAA All-Americans and three All-GSAC selections.

Pointing Things Out

Josiah De'laCerda

Only OUAZ player to earn all-conference honors twice.
Leads OUAZ in scoring (17.9 PPG) this year and second in rebounds (6.9 RPG). He also ranks sixth in the league in scoring and rebounding, as well as second in 3pt-FG percentage (47.1%).
This season De'laCerda scored at least 20 points 11 times, including 31 against Rocky Mountain and 30 versus San Diego Christian.
The all-time scorer who ranks first at OUAZ in total points (1,342), points per game (17.4), 20-point games (26), field goals made (546)/attempted (966) and three-point FG% (.410). Is also second all-time in rebounds with 541 heading into the OWU game.
Best in school history with 64 blocked shots.
Has started 76 of 77 career games and scored 20 or more points in 26 of them, including two of 30+.

Keshawn Bruner

Just the third OUAZ player to be named all-conference.
Has started 61 of 63 career games.
With 841 points, he's now 3rd on the all-time scoring list at OUAZ, 10 shy of Marcus Williams (2017-22). His career scoring average (13.3) is fifth all-time at the school.
Has nine games this year with 20 or more points, including 29 against Oklahoma City and 27 vs. Menlo.
Entered the tournament averaging 19.0 PPG and .562 FG% in the past three games (GSAC Tourney). Also hit .778 (21-27) of free throws in that span.
Fifth in career rebounds (290), second in career blocked shots (41) and fourth in career FG% (.523) all-time at OUAZ.

Devin Collins

Spirit season leader in rebounding and ranks third in the GSAC (8.7 RPG).
With 697 points, he's ranks 7^th on the all-time scoring list at OUAZ, 33 behind Kam Malbough (2020-22).
The school all-time rebounder for boards (672), offensive rebounds (202) and average (8.6) in 78 career games. His 202 offensive boards is more than double of the next player (Dimetres Moore, 2017-20).
He's now averaging 9.2 RPG over the last six games….Has 11 or more rebounds in three of the last six games and seven double-doubles this season.
7th in the league (second on the team) for FG% this season (.547%)

Alex Villi

The 2022-23 Spirit leader in three's made (63) and attempts (177). Only in his first season at OUAZ and these numbers are second most ever in an OUAZ single season.
Had eight games with three or more three's in a game, including 10 against The Master's. Had career high 36 points in that contest.
Recorded eight three's in the first half against No. 2 ranked Arizona Christian in the GSAC tournament and single-handedly outscored them 26-25 in the opening half.
For three GSAC tournament games he posted 17.7 PPG and hit 46.4% from 3PT range (13-28).

McKay Bundy

Has played in 65 career games and has the best career FG% in school history (.582). His blistering .632 percentage (86-135) this season also ranks as a school single-season best.
Scored a career best 25 points against Life Pacific. Also registered 19 in back-to-back contests versus Embry-Riddle and San Diego Christian. Connected on 16-18 (.889) of his shots in those two games.
Had one assist in the NAIA first round game against Baker as he dished a long pass from Alex Villi to Josiah De'laCerda for the game-winner.

Jayce Catchings

61 career games at OUAZ, he has improved in just about every statistical category from last year.
Averaging 9.1 PPG and 3.7 RPG on the year, but increased to 9.9 PPG over the last eight games.
Scored a career-high 18 points at Arizona Christian in December.

Kolten Hitt

Starter in all 31 games this season (84 for his career) and leads the team in steals (46). Also second in assist with 61. His 9.8 PPG is fourth on the team.
Registered double figures in scoring 13 times this year, including a career-high 22 against Providence (Mont.).
Had 16 points (6-of-10 from the field and 2-of-4 from three) and a season-high four steals in the win against Baker.

Josh Rivers

The team leader in assists with 70. Also has a team-low 27 turnovers in 30 games this year.
Had a career-high 10 points against Westmont in the GSAC Tournament.

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