Top-ranked Findlay plays in Division II Elite Eight

3/23/2005

GRAND FORKS, N.D. - The University of Findlay men's basketball team plays in the NCAA Division II Elite Eight here

beginning tomorrow.

Findlay (30-3), is ranked No. 1 in the nation in Division II. The Oilers play Lynn (28-5) from Boca Raton, Fla., at 9:30 tonight at the University of North Dakota's Ralph Engelstad Arena.

Lynn is ranked No. 12.

The winner of tonight's game plays tomorrow night against the winner of the game between Metro State and Virginia Union.

The championship game is Saturday.

This is Findlay's first trip to the Elite Eight. The Oilers defeated Ferris State 94-73 in the championship game of the Great Lakes Regional last week.

Findlay relies on a balanced attack, so opponents can't concentrate on stopping one or two players.

Chris Commons, a 6-8 sophomore center from Central Catholic, is Findlay's leading scorer at 15.9 points per game.

Dustin Pfeifer, a 5-9 junior point guard, averages 12.7 points and 5.0 assists.

Tyson McGlaughlin, a 6-4 senior guard from Ottawa-Glandorf, averages 11.2 points a game and is shooting 42 percent (83-for-197) from 3-point range. He is four 3-pointers away from breaking the school record for most 3-pointers in a season.

Marwan Gaines, a 6-5 senior forward, leads the Oilers in rebounding (6.9 per game) and contributes 8.8 points per contest.

The Fighting Knights of Lynn are led by James Cage, a 6-2 junior guard who averages 14.4 points per game, and Justin Wingard (12.5 points and 7.2 rebounds per game).