Posted by Cindy Fotti - Sat, Mar 21, 2009 - [ Men's Basketball ] - Viewed 440 times
Kansas City, Mo. - Tonight was a historic one for the Columbia College Cougar men's basketball team as they defeated the sixth ranked Westminster (Utah) College Griffons 50-47 to advance to the NAIA Division I National Tournament Final Four.
The win comes on the heels of a huge victory last night over No. 3 ranked Union University 84-64. The Cougars are making their 14th trip to the NAIA Div. 1 National Tournament and have never advanced past the second round until this year.
 
The Cougars improve to 29-7 on the season and find themselves up against MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) University in the second semifinal match of the night on Monday, March 23 at 8:50 p.m. MidAmerica defeated Columbia's American Midwest Conference foe McKendree (Ill.) University tonight 59-55.

Columbia held a 22-21 halftime lead after five lead changes and four ties. The Cougars shot just 31 percent in the first half, but took 29 shots from the field compared to the 19 that Westminster attempted.

The Cougars started the second half on a roll, going on a 17-5 run. Just when Columbia looked in control of the contest the Griffons answered back with a 16-0 run and took a 42-39 lead. Westminster took a 44-39 lead at the four minute mark and held at least a four point lead till the two minute mark. Jason Ellis broke the silence when he drained a shot from beyond the arc. Columbia jumped ahead 47-46 at the one minute mark on another three-pointer from Ellis. Ellis then hit a trio of free-throws that put the Cougars up 50-47 with seven seconds to go in regulation. Westminster had one last shot but was unable to connect, ending their season and advancing Columbia to the semifinals.

Jason Ellis scored 15 of his team-leading 17 points in the second half to pace Columbia. Ellis also led the Cougars in rebounding with four. Brett Hoskins was also in double figures with 12.
Westminster's Danny Stosich led all scorers with 18.

The combined point total (97) was the lowest amount in a Championship game since the 1999 event when Biola (Calif.) and Lipscomb (Tenn.) scored 97 in a 51-46 win for Biola. The 50 points scored by Columbia is the lowest amount for a winning team in a Championship game since Oklahoma Baptist won a 39-36 affair over Biola in the 1997 Championship.

The Cougar athletic department will once again be sponsoring fan buses to Monday night's game. Please contact Kim Kliegel to reserve your seat at 573-875-7433 or kakliegel1@ccis.edu.