The #9 Keiser University men's basketball team and #3 seed in the Naismith bracket defeated fifth seeded Olivet Nazarene and #21 team 77-66 in the opening round of the NAIA National Tournament. The Seahawks improved to 29-4 overall on the season.

How it Happened

• Olivet Nazarene took their first lead of 7-6 at the 16:30 mark, when an Andrija Sarenac three pointer started a 7-0 run that turned into a 16-1 stretch, regaining a 23-8 lead with 11:55 showing.
• The Seahawks defense held the Tigers to single digits until the 10:20 mark of the first half.
• ONU used a 13-2 run to climb within 25-21 with 5:57 to go but Keiser would not allow them any closer. The Seahawks went on to close the half on a 6-0 run to lead 37-27.
• The Tigers started the half on a 7-0 spurt getting to within 37-34 at the 17:46 mark, but a Brice Jenkins three pointer sparked an 11-2 run upping the advantage to 48-36 with 15:08 to go.
• Olivet Nazarene got to within nine on four occasions with the last time being 67-58 with 4:42 left, when a pair of Deion McClenton free throws started an 8-0 run pushing back out to a 75-58 advantage with 2:32 remaining. The Seahawks went on to win by a final of 77-66.

Inside the Box
3: Players in double digits led by Sarenac game high 20, Stanley Whittaker 18, and Jenkins 17.
8: Whittaker pulled down a game high eight rebounds on one offensive and seven defensive.
9: Keiser had nine steals off 13 turnovers.
11: Keiser connected on 11 threes with Sarenac having six of them.
49: The Seahawks went 30-61 from the field for 49 percent.

Up Next
The Seahawks move on to the second round on Friday morning at 9:30 AM Eastern time against the winner of defending national champs and #2 seed Cornerstone and #7 seed Cincinnati Christian.