Northwestern Oklahoma eliminates Xavier
For immediate release . . . March 16, 2007
Box Score

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Gary Nunez scored 19 points Friday, including the go-ahead free throws with 53 seconds remaining, to rally Northwestern Oklahoma to a 58-57 men's basketball victory against Xavier University of Louisiana in the second round of the NAIA Division I National Tournament at Municipal Auditorium.

Xavier (22-10) had a chance to force overtime, but Shaun Dumas missed the second free throw after making the first with three seconds remaining.

Dumas scored 24 points and Stewart 20 for the Gold Rush.

Northwestern Oklahoma outshot Xavier 38 to 35 percent from the floor and outrebounded the Rush 43-30. Xavier committed a season-low 10 turnovers and made a season-high-tying 11 3-pointers.

Xavier spent 3 1/2 minutes with the lead in the first half after Dumas' 3-pointer gave the Gold Rush a 12-9 advantage at 11:57.

Northwestern Oklahoma (22-11) reached the quarterfinals for the first time and will play Faulkner at 8 p.m. Saturday. Faulkner defeated McKendree 87-79 in the last of eight games late Friday.

The Rangers used a 15-3 run to erase Xavier's 55-48 lead in the final 3:10.

Xavier was attempting to reach the quarterfinals for the first time since 1973.