Wesleyan men fall in nationals

Zack Leeper led five double-figure scorers for Northwestern College with 18 points as the Iowa school trounced Tennessee Wesleyan 95-69 in the first game of the NAIA Division II men's national basketball tournament Wednesday morning at Point Lookout, Mo.

Ryan Stock and Daniel Van Kalsbeek each scored 16 points for ninth-seeded Northwestern (26-6), which has the most wins, 29, in tournament history. Wesleyan (24-10) is 0-4 in national appearances.

The Bulldogs' Shannon Smith led all scorers with 20 points, including five 3-pointers in seven tries, and E'Jay Ward added 13 points and six assists while Quincy Scates had 10 points and three steals. They fell behind 13-2 but closed to within 16-14 before the Red Raiders built a 42-26 advantage.

Wesleyan's Lady Bulldogs play Hastings of Nebraska at 1 p.m. EST today in the Division II women's tournament in Sioux City, Iowa.

Lee University's teams learned their opening matchups Wednesday for next week's NAIA Division I tournaments. The 30-3 Lady Flames, seventh in the final poll, play Biola University from La Mirada, Calif., next Thursday at Frankfort, Ky., at 6:15 p.m. EDT; the 17th-ranked Flames (20-8) also play next Thursday against Georgetown (Ky.) at 9 EDT at Kansas City, Mo.

Cleveland State wins

At Jackson, Tenn., in the TCCAA/NJCAA Region VII tournament, the Chattanooga State men lost to host Jackson State, 79-76, and Cleveland State's Cougars upset Southwest Tennessee 93-80. Chatt State's Lady Tigers face Motlow State at 9 EST tonight.

Keith Johnson topped Cleveland State (15-13) with 30 points. Travis Jones scored 20 points, as did Nick Ross. Ross had been held to one point in the opening half, which ended 42-42. Gerard Gore contributed 13 points and 13 rebounds for the Cougars.