The Herald Bulletin
MOUNT LOOKOUT, Mo. — Madison County alums Austin Leisure and DeJovaun Sawyer-Davis combined for 31 points Monday as No. 15 St. Francis advanced to the NAIA Div. II national championship game.
The Cougars knocked off No. 6 Oklahoma Wesleyan 77-73 in the semifials at Keeter Gymnasium.
Qadr Owens led St. Francis with 25 points, followed by Sawyer-Davis and Leisure.
Sawyer-Davis, a former star at Anderson High School, shot just 5-of-16 from the field. But he narrowly missed his 16th double-double of the season with 17 points and nine rebounds.
Leisure, who starred at Frankton High School, scored 14 points on 4-of-8 shooting. He added four rebounds and two assists.
The Cougars trailed 40-39 at halftime but gained the lead early in the second half.
Leisure made one free throw with one second remaining after Oklahoma Wesleyan had cut its deficit to three points.
St. Francis will meet Walsh University out of Ohio in tonight’s championship game at 8 p.m.
Walsh (32-2) is ranked No. 1 and beat Bellevue (Wash.) 67-66 in the semifinals.
