Mustangs roll to A.I.I. title

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa -- Their first two games in this tournament were nail-biters, but top-seeded Mount Mercy took all the drama out of the title game, drilling third-seeded York (Neb.), 74-61, to claim the Association of Independent Institutions (A.I.I.) Men's Basketball Championship on Sunday night.

After needing overtime in Friday's quarterfinal against Johnson & Wales (Colo.) and narrowly escaping Central Christian (Kan.) in Saturday's semifinal, the 17th-ranked Mustangs looked vulnerable. But a 12-0 run midway through the first half dispelled that notion. Mount Mercy led, 30-9, with seven minutes left in the opening period and never looked back, leaving the U.S. Cellular Center as the A.I.I. champs.

Alex Houston, who averaged 20.7 points and 12 rebounds in those three wins, was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player. He was joined on the Wells Fargo All-Tournament Team by teammates Tre Wagner, Chris Ford and CJ Parker; Trevor Lenear, Johnny Cooksey and Cameron Coleman of York; Tyrus Fleetwood and Brian Bridgeforth of Washington Adventist (Md.); and Alonzo Stafford of Central Christian (Kan.).

Houston finished with 15 points and 15 rebounds in Sunday's final. Ford added 11 points, six boards and four assists. Ben Struss tallied 11 points and six rebounds and Kyle Lamaak 10 points and six boards off the bench. Wagner had eight points and five assists, Mychael Brawner-Henley eight points and four rebounds.

By reaching the championship game, both Mount Mercy (25-7) and York (23-9) had already qualified for the NAIA Division II Men's Basketball National Championship. Washington Adventist, which toppled Central Christian in the consolation game, will join the Mustangs and Panthers in Point Lookout, Mo., March 9-15. Pairings for the national tournament will be announced on the NAIA Network during a live selection show on Wednesday, March 2, at 6:00 p.m. Central Time.