GLENDALE, Ariz. – A cold-shooting night for Oregon Tech came at the wrong time of the season, as No. 3-ranked Arizona Christian held the Hustlin' Owls to a season-low 28% shooting clip in an 83-52 victory in the second round of the NAIA National Championships inside the ACU Events Center.
 
The win for the top-seeded Firestorm (28-4) advances to the final site of the tournament for the fifth-straight year and a third-round match-up against the University of the Cumberlands.
 
"That is a championship caliber team," said OIT head coach Justin Parnell. "However, it doesn't take away from our season and the legacy that our seniors will be leaving. I am so proud of the effort we gave today – it just wasn't our night."
 
Kam Osborn pulled the Owls (23-8) even at 10-10 early in the first half – but Arik Nicholas scored off an offensive rebound and followed with a 3-pointer, with Ese Onakpoma scoring back-to-back lay-ups and Jalik Dunkley slammed home a pair, part of a 18-7 run that gave ACU a double-digit lead.
 
OIT cut the margin to 34-24 at the break – but Dominic Gonzalez scored the first six points of the second half, including a 4-point play – as the hosts played with a double-digit lead for the rest of the night.
 
Blake Jensen led the Owls with 14 points in his final collegiate game, with fellow seniors Osborn and Erik Fraser each scoring 10. Tech finished the night 13-of-47 from the field – scoring 34 points under their season scoring average.
 
Onakpoma led all scorers with 21 points, with Dunkley scoring 14, Nicholas posting 12 off the bench and Gonzalez adding 11. ACU put the game away in the second half, making 64% of their field goals.
 
The Owls fell to 8-11 all-time in the second round of the tournament – their 24th all-time appearance at Nationals.