POINT LOOKOUT, MO - The Braves fell to Grace College, 75-67 in the second round of the NAIA Men's Basketball Division II National Tournament on Friday afternoon in Keeter Gymnasium. 

The Lancers took an early 5-0 lead on the Braves and after the first five minutes, Grace continued to have the lead, 5-2. Ottawa received its second basket of the half at the 14:13 mark by David Birch to cut the Grace lead to three, 7-4. Grace stretched its lead on OU, 11-4 with 12:26 remaining in the half. The Braves cut the lead to four, 11-7 but the Lancers built its lead to nine, 19-10 and pushed it to double digits, 27-17 at the 5:52 mark. The Lancers pushed the lead to the largest of the half, 13 points, 30-17 with 4:04 left but OU went on a 9-0 run to end the half, cutting the lead to four, trailing at the half, 30-26. 

Grace opened the second half with an old fashioned three point play, scoring for the first time since the 4:04 mark of the first half. Isaac Johnston scored the first points of the second half for OU with a three, keeping OU within four points, 33-29. The Lancers scored the next four points, upping their lead to eight, 37-29 with 17:49 left in regulation.

After a GC basket, OU received a jumper from Matt Green and two free throws apiece from Clint Brightman and Birch to put OU within five, 40-35. OU came up with a defensive stop and on its next offensive possession; Birch hit a layup cutting the deficit to three, 40-37 with 15:39 left in the second half.

After a Tony Anderson bucket, OU had cut the lead to two, 41-39 but the Lancers scored four straight and upped its lead to six, 45-39 at the 14:10 mark. OU received seven straight points from Phil McClintock to cut the Lancer lead to one, 47-46. Grace answered by scoring four straight to give a five point cushion, 51-46 with 10:53 left in regulation.

OU closed the gap to three after a basket by Anderson and a three by McClintock but again GC would answer and with 8:56 the Lancers had a 58-51 lead on the Braves. The Braves cut the lead again on Grace with five straight points by Birch, cutting the deficit to two, 58-56. The Lancers though scored four straight and upped its lead to six points, 62-56 at the 5:50 mark.

Grace continued to hold the lead on the Braves, and was up by eight, 68-60 with 3:01 left in the game. OU again would cut into the Grace lead and after two free throws apiece by McClintock and Birch, OU was within three, 68-65 at the 2:01 mark. Grace though scored the next four points and upped its lead to eight, 73-65 with 39.6 seconds left. OU received a quick bucket by Isaac Johnston to cut the lead to six, 73-67 but that would be all the closer OU would get as the Braves fell, 75-67 to Grace College in the Sweet 16. 

OU shot 39.1 percent from the floor, 25-64 and Grace had a 45.2 shooting percentage, 28-62. Ottawa was outrebounded, 55-26 but points in the paint were even at 36 apiece. 

The Braves were led in scoring by McClintock with 29 points and eight rebounds. The senior all-american was 12-20 from the floor and had three blocks for OU. Birch was the other Brave in double figures. The all-american was 4-18 from the floor and was a perfect 6-6 from the free throw line.

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