| Otterbein scored 102 points
in the title game and got almost three-quarters of them from three
people. D3sports.com photo |
SALEM — For 26 minutes, Elizabethtown seemed destined to give the Middle Atlantic Region its second consecutive national champion.
The final 14 minutes proved to be the difference, however, as Otterbein ran away with its first national title by ouscoring the Blue Jays 48-18 down the stretch for a 102-83 victory.
Kevin Shay, Jeff Gibbs, and Tony Borghese (right) combined for 75 points to lead the Cardinals (30-3) against the upstart Blue Jays in the championship game of the 2002 Division III Men’s Basketball Tournament at the Salem Civic Center.
"Just to see the national championship slip from our fingers is totally indescribable," said senior point guard Rocky Parise, who finished with nine points on 4-for-11 shooting. "It was just their night."
Gibbs, the tournament’s Most Valuable Player, had 25 points and a Final Four-record 25 rebounds for Otterbein. Shay hit 10 of 20 shots from the field, four of six from 3-point range, and five of six free throws for a game-high 29 points. Borghese netted 11 of 14 free throws on his way to a 21-point, eight-assist performance.
Brian Loftus and Bob Porambo scored 17 apiece to led four Elizabethtown (29-3) players in double digits. Jon English added 14 and Ian Daecher had 10 for the Blue Jays.
Trailing 74-72 in the game’s final eight minutes, Otterbein rattled off a 16-0 run over the next 3:27 to claim the title. Borghese had eight points in the run, connecting on a three and hitting five free throws.
He was the first to show emotion for the Cardinals after a pair of free throws with 1:07 left put Otterbein up 100-83.
"I never realized how tough it is to play college ball," said Borghese. "Your head needs to be in it all the time and that is what Kevin and coach (Dick Reynolds) have been beating into me all season. This is the greatest time I have ever had."
Elizabethtown twice led by double digits, and held a 54-48 advantage thanks to a 51.3% (20-of-39) field goal percentage in the opening half. Otterbein connected at a 45.0% (18-of-40) pace, and held a 23-20 rebounding advantage.
Otterbein connected on 57.7% (15 of 26) shots in the second half on its way to a 50.0% (33 of 66) pace in the game. The Cardinals also outscored Elizabethtown 48-18 over the final 14 minutes of the game.
Gibbs set a Division III tournament record with 83 total rebounds, while his 16.6 average in the tournament is also a record. The 6-1 senior also grabbed 40 rebounds in the two-game championship series.
"I have been beat up all season," said Gibbs, "but right now you can't ask for any better feeling than this. It feels great."
"Our philosophy coming into the season was Jeff was going to score when he got the ball," said Shay. "When he got doubled someone was going to have to step up and tonight it just happened to be me and Tony (Borghese)."
Gibbs was joined on the All-Tournament Team by Shay and Porambo. Rochester’s Seth Hauben and Carthage’s Jason Wiertel rounded out the All-Tournament Team.