ORANGE CITY, Iowa – Keegan Shivers forced overtime with a 3-point basket with 38 seconds left in regulation, adding five points in the extra session, as Oregon Tech shook off a slow start to defeat Keiser University, 102-94, in the first round of the NAIA National Tournament inside the Bultman Center.
 
The Hustlin' Owls (27-5) won for the 13th time in 14 games, earning a Saturday date with host Northwestern College at 4 p.m. The winner will advance to the Round of 16 next week in Kansas City, Mo.
 
"This team has guts," Parnell said. "When they need to get big bucket, they get a big bucket and when need to get a big board, they do it."
 
The Seahawks (18-11) used a 6-0 run late in regulation, capped by a Justin Nichelson 3-point play, to take an 83-79 with 1:45 left. Jamison Guerra canned a triple and following a baseline runner from KU's Brandon Farmer, Shivers drained a corner 3-pointer to force the extra session.
 
In overtime, Tech never trailed. Guerra started the frame with a 3-ball and Blake Jensen converted a conventional 3-point play and added an emphatic dunk. Shivers capped the run with a 3-pointer, giving OIT their largest lead of the night at 96-88. The Owls made 5-of-7 field goals and all five free throws in overtime – holding the Seahawks to 3-of-11 shooting.
 
Things didn't start as rosy for OIT, as the Owls made 3-of-21 field goals over the first 10 minutes. Bobo Sirmans scored the first 11 points for KU and Tyler Poindexter canned a pair of 3-pointers, as the Florida team led 19-3 and extended the margin to 27-10 with nine minutes left in the half.
 
"I don't know what it was to start," Parnell said. "I don't know if we were out here too long – prepping for a team for a week. Our game plan was good, but we didn't execute."
 
The Owls found their rhythm over the final eight minutes – as 3's from Kam Osborn and Shivers cut the deficit to 27-18, with a second Shivers 3-pointer getting Tech within 39-35 late in the half.
 
Following the break, the Owls connected on their first four 3-pointers – as triples from Shivers, Erik Fraser and Jay Elmore keyed a 14-2 run, giving OIT their first lead, extending the margin to 58-52.
 
KU would not quit, forcing seven second half ties and three lead changes – before the late OIT heroics.
 
Shivers scored 23 points with eight rebounds, Fraser scored 18 and Jensen posted a double-double with 15 points and 13 rebounds. Osborn scored 13, with Guerra logging his fifth double-double of the season, scoring 12 points with 10 assists.
 
Sirmans led the Seahawks with 25 points on 25 shot attempts, with the NAIA's rebound leader, Vincent Miszkiewicz scoring 18 points with 18 rebounds.
 
OIT moves to the second-round of the NAIA Tournament for the 18th time – looking to improve to 3-0 all-time against Northwestern. The Owls defeated the Red Raiders in the first-round of the 1987 and 2006 championships.