NO. 11 TIGERS FALL SHORT IN THE FINAL GAME OF THE OPENING ROUND OF THE 2022 NAIA MEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP, 90-87

BOURBONNAIS, Ill. – The No. 11 Olivet Nazarene University men's basketball team hosted the Lancers of Grace College in the Opening Round of the 2022 NAIA Men's Basketball Championships on Saturday evening inside, a packed, McHie Arena.  The Tigers fell short in the game 90-87. 

The two teams started the first half deadlocked at eight all.  The hero of last night's game, Tyler Schmidt, tossed in sixth of those eight points.  With Grace up 17-16, the Tigers saw an offensive spirt from Alex Gross, who scored the next seven points for ONU.  The Tigers led 23-19.  The Tigers kept up the offensive onslaught.  With ten minutes left, Schmidt and Gross supplied the next seven ONU points and led 32-27.  At the score 32-28, ONU went on a 9-2 run making the score 41-30.  Schmidt hit a three on that run.  In the closing seconds of the half, Gross knocked down a three as the Tigers took a 55-43 lead going into the half. 

Halftime: No. 11 Olivet Nazarene 55, Grace 43

The Lancers got off to a hot start in the second half and went on an 11-0 run until Landon Pflederer made a field goal.  The Tigers still led 57-54.  The game was very tight throughout the second half until 10 minutes left in the game.  The Tigers went on a 10-3 run highlighted by Barik Olden and Pflederer.  The Tigers led 78-68.  Grace then knotted the game up at 79 with five minutes left. 

Then, with a 1:18 left, Gross made a layup as the Tigers pulled ahead by one at 86-85.  A three by Grace big man Elijah Malone eventually made the difference with 13 ticks left as the Tigers fall short of advancing to the Sweet 16 as they were on the short end of a 90-87 game. 

THOUGHTS FROM ALEX GROSS ON THE SEASON AND HIS TIME AT ONU

"I am going to miss this team and the brotherhood we had," said Gross. "This team was just guys who respected each other, loved on each other,  tried to glorify God in everything we did and I think we accomplished that this year."

GAME VITALS

Final: Grace 90, No. 11 Olivet Nazarene 87

Records: Grace: 27-8 | No. 11 Olivet Nazarene: 31-4

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

TIGER MILESTONES

• Gross finished is ONU career as the fifth Tiger in program history with 2,000 career points and he finished with 2,021. 
• Gross ended the season with 480 rebounds, which is a program record. 
• The Tigers ended the 2021-22 campaign with a program record 31 wins and 21 wins in the CCAC. 
• Pflederer grabbed his 200^th assist in the first half in the game finishing with 204 assists for this season. 

QUICK HITS

• Gross finished the game with 32 points, 10 assists, and seven boards. 
• Schmidt followed with 30 points. 
• Caleb Swearingen came off the bench and put in some good minutes as he marked eight points. 
• The Tigers outscored Grace, 48-36 in points-in-the-paint. 

To the seniors, congratulations on a terrific season and good luck on your future endeavors. 

--ONU—

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