NATIONAL CHAMPIONS; MBB wins 66-45 in title game

Box Score

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POINT LOOKOUT, Mo. – Cornerstone University claimed its third ever NAIA DII National Championship on Tuesday night with a 66-45 win over No. 5 Dakota Wesleyan University (S.D.). The title is the second in the last five years as the Golden Eagles finish their season with a 33-5 overall record. Kyle Steigenga (FR/Holland, Mich.) was named the Tournament Most Valuable Player and he was joined on the All-Tournament Team by Ben Lanning (JR/Grandville, Mich.) and Travis Wells (JR/Eaton Rapids, Mich.).

Game Flow
After Dakota Wesleyan opened the game with a triple from Trae Bergh, it was all Cornerstone. The Golden Eagles scored the game's next 12 points and 17 of the next 19 to open a big lead that grew to 22 on the final possession when Travis Wells hit a runner in the lane to put CU up 42-20. Cornerstone connected on 18 of their 32 first half shots including 4-8 from behind the arc to build the big lead.

Dakota then came out on fire in the second half as they scored 10 of the first 13 points to cut the lead to 15 but that would be as close as they would get for the remainder of the game as Cornerstone's defense stepped up huge. The 45 points allowed is the lowest in a championship game in NAIA DII Tournament history. CU also held the Tigers 42 points below their season average which led the NAIA coming into the game.

Say What?
"Cutting down the nets never gets old - I am so proud of these guys because they worked so hard all year and they believed they could be here to do this tonight" – Head coach Kim Elders

By the Numbers
3 – Third national championship for Cornerstone University – 1999, 2011 and now 2015

3 – Players on the All-Tournament Team – Ben Lanning, Travis Wells and Kyle Steigenga (MVP)

1 – NABC NAIA DII National Coach of the Year – Coach Kim Elders – his second ever – 1999

24 and 14 – Ben Lanning led CU with 24 points while Kyle Steigenga had 14 – the only two players in double-figures for the Golden Eagles

45 – Season low points for Dakota Wesleyan – by seven points

10 and 3 – Blocks for Ben Lanning to go along with his 10 rebounds – his fifth straight game with 10+ at tourney

Up Next
Cornerstone concludes their season as the 2014-15 NAIA DII National Champions.

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