KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Tommy Granado scored 16 points and Donnell Phifer added 14 to lead Concordia (Calif.) University to a 72-69 victory Tuesday night against Oklahoma Baptist in the NAIA Division men’s tournament championship game.
Oklahoma Baptist had a chance to send the game to overtime, but Heath McKay’s three-point attempt hit the back rim just before the buzzer.
Concordia (31-7) claimed the title for the first time since 2003.
The fourth-seeded Eagles (31-7) trailed by 15 early before roaring back. Oklahoma Baptist (32-5) was led by Marques Anderson’s 15 points and team-high 10 rebounds.
Oklahoma Baptist had lost leading rebounder DeAngelo McIntosh in Monday’s semifinal to a ruptured patellar tendon. With the OBU front line missing a key player, the 258-pound Granado was able to have his way in the lane against the smaller Bison.
