Preachers play in national tournament
behind all-American Dunaway    

[MARCH 5, 2004]  SPRINGFIELD, Mo. --The Lincoln Christian College men's basketball team is participating in its first NCCAA National Tournament. At the “Celebration of Champions” banquet on Wednesday, the Preachers' floor leader, Brian Dunaway, was named to the NCCAA All-American team as a unanimous selection. Dunaway has led the nation in scoring all year long and entered the national tournament with an average of 27.4 points per game.

In a Thursday evening game, the Preachers defeated the Storm of Crown College in Minnesota, which entered the tournament as the third seed, with an overall record of 12-22. Lincoln received the sixth seed, with an overall record of 20-15. Crown was the North Central champion, while Lincoln prevailed in the Midwest Region on a buzzer-beating 3-pointer by Caleb Edson against Maranatha Baptist Bible College. When Lincoln and Crown played in a tournament at Northland Baptist Bible College on Dec. 4, Lincoln brought home an 81-72 victory.

The Preachers have battled through ups and downs this season and are playing their best basketball of the season down the stretch. After a 17-15 regular season, Lincoln defeated Emmaus College and Moody Bible Institute in the regional tournament on the way to the championship matchup with Maranatha.

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In the championship game, Dunaway showed everyone why he was voted Regional Player of the Year, as he scored 30 points, grabbed six rebounds and dished out five assists, including the game-winning assist to Edson. In addition to Dunaway and Edson, the Preachers are getting double-figure scoring from 6-foot-7 sophomore center Travis Chase and 6-foot-3 sophomore J.P. McCray.

With the 84-70 victory over Crown College, LCC advances to the national semifinals at 8 p.m. Friday. Ticket information is available at www.lccs.edu/athletics/basketball/men.

[LCC news release]

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