Oh what a night. Roaring Lions Drop Heartbreaker in USCAA Finals

By USCAA Staff

UNIONTOWN, PA – In a battle between the ninth and tenth seeds in the Men's Division II basketball bracket, the Warren Wilson College Owls defeated the hometown Penn State Fayette Roaring Lions 76-68 to win their first USCAA basketball National Championship.

Playing before a record crowd of nearly 1,000, the Owls received 22 points from Tournament MVP Raysean Love (7-12) who dominated the second-half (15 points) and led the Owls to a comeback victory. Warren Wilson trailed at the half 36-33, but started the second half on a 12-2 run that would put them ahead for good. Rashad Ali put in 14 points for the Owls on 6-8 shooting and Anthony Barringer had a double-double with 13 points, 10 rebounds, and contributed 8 assists. As a team Warren Wilson outrebounding Penn State Fayette 48-22, dominating the offensive and defensive glass and getting 18 second-chance points.

The story of the first half was hot shooting from a Roaring Lions and turnovers from the Owls. Warren Wilson committed 10 turnovers in the game's first fifteen minutes. Penn State Fayette entered the game coming off back-to-back wins against Andrews University and Berkeley College (NY), last year's Men's Division II basketball finalists. David Winns was a force underneath the basketball for Fayette, tallying 22 points (7-15) and 9 rebounds in his final collegiate game. Ryan Hart added 17 points and James Pratt had 15 for the Roaring Lions.