FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

JOHN BROWN (ARK.) REACHES FIRST ELITE EIGHT WITH 61-56 WIN

      (Kansas City, Mo.)—John Brown University (Ark.) advanced to the quarterfinal round of the 2005 Buffalo Funds-NAIA Division I Men’s Basketball National Championship with a 61-56 victory against Louisiana State University-Shreveport Friday at Municipal Auditorium.

      With the victory, John Brown moves to 21-11 on the season. The Golden Eagles advance to the third round of the NAIA Division I national tournament for the first time in school history and will face either No. 2 seed Southern Polytechnic State University (Ga.) or Biola University (Calif.) Saturday at 8 p.m. CST. 

      The Golden Eagles held LSU-Shreveport without a point in the final 2:48 of play to rally for the win. Adam Workman’s three-pointer with 30 seconds to play gave John Brown the lead for good, 59-56. After two missed free throws by the Pilots, Reyjavick DeGracia sealed the win by hitting a pair of foul shots with six seconds on the clock. For the game, John Brown limited LSU-Shreveport to just 29.2 percent shooting from the field. 

      Brandon Cole led John Brown with 18 points, while Pat Smits contributed 11 points. Workman and DeGracia each posted 10 points as Joel Tesis added a team-high eight rebounds. 

      Derrick Hughes led a balanced scoring attack for LSU-Shreveport with 12 points, while Derrick Sowell and Frederick Hughes scored 11 points each. Derrick Hill collected a game-high 16 rebounds for the Pilots, who end the season at 27-9. LSU-Shreveport was making its first trip to the NAIA Division I Men’s Basketball National Championship.