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Photo Credit: Eric Decker
Photo Credit: Eric Decker
Posted: Mar 11, 2022

SCHMIDT'S BUZZER-BEATER LIFTS NO. 11 TIGERS OVER LOURDES, 90-88, IN THE OPENING ROUND OF THE 2022 NAIA MEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

Video Box Score

BOURBONNAIS, Ill. – The No. 11 Olivet Nazarene University men's basketball team hosted the Gray Wolves of Lourdes University in the Opening Round of the 2022 NAIA Men's Basketball Championship inside McHie Arena on Friday night.  Tyler Schmidt's buzzer-beater lifted the Tigers over the Gray Wolves, 90-88.

 

The Tigers and Gray Wolves were trading blows in the opening minutes of the first half, but the Tigers led 9-4 early.  Alex Gross, Tyler Schmidt, Landon Pflederer, and Barik Olden marked points for ONU.  Lourdes then went on a 7-0 run and led 11-9.  Then, the two teams traded threes but the Gray Wolves led 23-17.  Pflederer made both of the three-pointers for the Tigers.  The Gray Wolves continued to control the tempo in the middle of the first half as they led 29-21.  Then, Schmidt scored five of the next seven points for the Tigers, but still trailed 31-28.  With four minutes left, and with the score 33-30, Cade Chitty buried a three knotting the score up at 33. 

 

The Tigers ended the half on a 10-2 run and led 43-35 at the half. 

 

Halftime: No. 11 ONU 43, Lourdes 35

 

Both teams came out of the locker room on fire as the two teams combined for 18 points in the first three minutes.  During that stretch, Lourdes came back and cut the ONU lead to a three-point lead at 50-47.  The Tigers then got back on track as Gross tossed in the next four points and made the score 54-47.  Lourdes kept hanging tough in this game and got within two at 56-54.  After Lourdes cut the lead to one at 61-60, The Tigers grabbed the momentum back on an 11-2 run to make the score 72-62. Pflederer buried a pair of back-to-back threes' during that run, which forced a Lourdes timeout.

 

Lourdes kept fighting and hanging tough against ONU as they closed the deficit to 80-75 with four minutes to go.  After Schmidt knocked down a three, the Gray Wolves scored the next eight points and tied the Tigers at 83 with 1:48 left. With nine seconds left, Lourdes drained a three and deadlocked the game at 88. 

 

After a timeout by Nick Birkey and ONU, Schmidt shot a step-back jumper to win the game for the Tigers at the buzzer.  The Tigers won 90-88. 

 

 

 

GAME VITALS

Final: No. 11 Olivet Nazarene 90, Lourdes 88

Records: No. 11 Olivet Nazarene: 31-3 | Lourdes: 24-8

Location: McHie Arena | Olivet Nazarene University | Bourbonnais, Ill.

 

COACH BIRKEY'S THOUGHTS ON TYLER SCHMIDT'S BUZZER BEATER

"Tyler [Schmidt] brings it every day," said Birkey.  "Today was no exception and we wanted to keep him in the game because we know what he does offensively on the floor.  His attack at the rim and his ability to knock down shots and how he gets to the free throw line shows that he is as good as anyone in our league.  He is a gifted player and gifted scorer and someone who we definitely trust and made a play for us."

 

TYLER SCHMIDT THOUGHTS ON FINAL SHOT

"When they drew up the play in the timeout, I said to myself in my head that I wanted to shoot it because I have so much confidence," said Schmidt.  "When it went up, I knew it was going in."

 

TIGER MILESTONES

  • The last time the Tigers won an NAIA Tournament game was in 2006 when they beat Wayland Baptist and then beat the number one team in the country: Mountain State University.   
  • The Tigers set a new school record for the most wins in a single season with 31. 
  • The Tigers also set a new school record for the best winning percentage with .912. 
  • ONU hosted its first ever Opening Round game of the NAIA Men's Basketball Tournament. 

 

QUICK HITS

  • Gross led the Tigers with 25 points and 10 rebounds. 
  • Schmidt followed with 23 points, six rebounds, four assists, and two blocks.
  • Pflederer marked his third 20-point effort of the season with 20 points and went 4-for-7 from behind the arc. 
  • The Tigers shot 60% from the field.
  • The Tigers scored 44 points-in-the-paint. 

 

WHAT'S NEXT?

The No. 11 Tigers host the Grace College Lancers, who beat the University of the Cumberlands, 73-71, in the final game of the Opening Round of the 2022 NAIA Men's Basketball Championship on Saturday, March 12th.  Action from McHie Arena starts at 5 p.m. Please visit onutigers.com for more information. 

 

--ONU—

 

*Contact; Sam Viebrock, Sports Information Director, stviebrock@olivet.edu