Nebraska Wesleyan advanced to its first-ever national title game with a 101-90 victory over Williams on Friday night in the Salem Civic Center. Nebraska Wesleyan has finished third on three different occasions, but has never played for the national championship.

The back court of Nebraska Wesleyan (25-5) proved to be the undoing of Williams (26-3), as starting guards Mitch Mosser and Kipp Kissinger combined for 58 points for the Plainsmen. Mosser, a 6-4 junior, connecton of 8-11 field goals, 5-6 3-pointes and 9-10 free throws for 30 total points. He also contributed eight assists and made three steals on the evening. Kissinger, a 6-1 junior, hit 9-12 field goals, 6-8 3-pointers and 4-4 free throws for a total of 28 points. Guard Mike Humphreys fired in 24 to lead Williams, and he connected on 3-3 3-pointers.

Nebraska Wesleyan took a 51-30 halftime lead behind 15 points from Mosser and 11 points from Kissinger, and the Plainsmen hit a total of 6-8 3-pointers. NWU went on to hit 18-27 field goals, for a percentage of 66.7, and was a perfect 9-9 from the free throw. Williams outscored NWU 30-13 from the start of the second half to cut the lead to 64-60 with 10:23 remaining in the game. The Effs used five 3-pointers from four different players to make a run at the Plainsmen. NWU answered with a 19-6 run to pull back ahead 79-66 with six minutes left and was never threatened again.

NWU also received double digit scoring from Chad Ideus, who had 15 points, and Jeff Miller, who scored 10 points. Williams received 23 points from Michael Nogelo and 12 from Jim Frew. On Saturday, Williams faces Alvernia in the consolation game at 5:15 p.m., and Nebraska Wesleyan and Illinois Wesleyan square off at 8 p.m. for the Division III National title.