Findlay goes after GLIAC crown

2/27/2007

FINDLAY - The University of Findlay men's basketball team, fresh off concluding the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference season as the first unbeaten team since the conference went to divisional play in the 1995-96 season, starts its pursuit of the GLIAC tournament championship at 7:30 tonight by hosting Ashland at Croy Gymnasium.

The Oilers, ranked third in the NCAA Division II poll, finished the regular season 25-1 overall and 17-0 in the GLIAC. Their only loss came in overtime to Tarleton State (Texas) in the championship game of Tarleton's season-opening tournament.

Findlay is currently riding a 55-game home winning streak, the longest in the nation, regardless of division.

The Oilers, who have not lost at home since the 2003-04 season, are 432-105 at Croy since the facility became their home starting with the 1969-70 season.

The Oilers have won six straight GLIAC South Division championships and seven in their 10 years in the conference. Findlay has also won the GLIAC tournament in the 2003-04 and 2004-05 seasons. Findlay has advanced to the NCAA Division II Great Lakes Regional Tournament for five consecutive years and reached the Elite Eight in the 2004-05 season.

Findlay is led by senior forward Frank Phillips, who has started every game in his career and has twice been named to the All-GLIAC team. Phillips is averaging 14.1 points per game this season and is shooting 66.1 percent from the field.

- Matt Markey