The Sterling College men’s Basketball team will face Northwood University (FL) on Thursday March 12th, at 5:45p.m. in the first round of the NAIA Division II National Tournament at the Keeter Gymnasium in Point Lookout, Missouri.
Northwood, a member of the Sun Conference, received the #2 at-large bid to play in the 32 team national tournament. The Seahawks were eliminated in the quarterfinals of their conference tournament by Edward Waters, 56-68. They hold a 26-5 overall record and were 11-3 in the Sun Conference. St. Thomas received the automatic bid for winning the Sun Conference tournament. Northwood enters the tournament for the third time in their school history with a record of 2-2. Northwood made it to the quarterfinals of the last year’s tournament, before losing the Northwestern (IA) in the elite eight.
The Warriors clinched the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference regular season championship with a 14-4 record. This is Sterling’s 2nd ever KCAC regular season title and will be their third trip to the NAIA Div. II National Tournament in the past six years.
Sterling (21-9) is led by senior Jonathan Woods (6’10, C, San Antonio, TX.). Woods is averaging 12.3 points and 10.6 rebounds per game this season. The Warriors have four other players averaging double figures in Mac Stephenson, Zach Goodrich, Chad Friess and Cody Brazelton. DeSean White (6’8, So., F, Philadelphia, PA.) leads the Northwood Seahawks in scoring at 19.4 ppg., 9.3rrpg and is shooting 52.1 percent from the floor. White played his first two years at a NCAA Div. I program, Providence, before transferring to Northwood. Northwood also has two other players averaging in double figures in Lester Hunte a 6’5 forward/Guard and Baree Ward a 6’0 guard.
The Seahawks are coached by legendary coach Rollie Massimino, who is best known for leading the 1985 Villanova team to the NCAA National Championship. Massimino is in his third season at Northwood.
Sterling is currently 0-2 at the NAIA National Tournament. The Warriors last trip to the tournament was in 2006.Tournament brackets, game times, and general information are available at the NAIA website www.naia.org