10th-ranked Northwestern College lost to the University of Saint Francis (Ind.) 94-83 in the second round of the NAIA Division II Men's Basketball National Championship played today at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D.  Their season ends with a 26-7 overall record; the 13th 20+ win season under head coach Kris Korver and 20th overall.

NAIA Press Release | 

Colton Kooima dazzled his home-town crowd with a 2018 tournament-high 37 points, scoring 30+ points in back-to-back games. Kooima shot 12-for-22 from the field, drained six three-pointers and also pulled down six rebounds to go with four assists. Nathan Wedel tallied his sixth double-double, netting 23 points to go with 12 rebounds.

The lead switched hands three times early on and featured six ties, the final coming at 14 at the 13-minute mark. Trailing 24-22 after a three-pointer by Kooima, Northwestern was outscored 12-4 to fall behind 36-26 on three-pointer by Chandler White. USF shot better than 50% from beyond the arc in the first half, making 7-of-13 three-point attempts, as they held a 50-41 edge at the break. Northwestern shot 41% in the opening half, 31% from the arc.

USF put the game away with a 15-5 run to start the half, taking its largest lead (19) with 14:30 left to go. A 12-4 surge by Northwestern, beginning with a three-pointer by Kooima and finished off with a three-point play by Wedel made it a nine-point game, 74-65, at the six-minute mark. The rally would end, however, as the Red Raiders could not get any closer during the final minutes.

Northwestern shot 48% for the game, 31% (9/29) from the three-point line. 

Saint Francis shot 51% for the game and was led by senior guard Derek Hinen with 34 points. Austin Compton scored 18 off the Cougars bench and White chipped in 16. Saint Francis, now 27-8 on the year, had a 35-30 advantage on the boards, leading to 20 second-chance points.

This marks the final game for seniors; Colton Kooima, Nathan Wedel, Riley Francis, Derek Buysse, Tanner Hilbrands, Matt Hillman and managers Ben Von Heeder, Taylor Driesen.

Kooima-2,441 points (2nd all-time), 309 3pters (2nd all-time), 368 assists (13th)
Wedel-1924 points (7th all-time), 798 rebounds (10th all-time), 419 assists (11th)
Francis-927 points, 472 rebounds, 119 3pters (T22nd all-time), 202 assists
Buysse-870 points, 322 rebounds, 169 3pters (11th all-time)
Hilbrands-42 points, 24 rebounds
Hillman-28 points, 11 rebounds