OMAHA, March 16 (UPI) -- A massive game by bulky Kyle O'Quinn Friday launched Norfolk State to a shocking 86-84 win over Missouri in the NCAA tourney's West Region.
Norfolk State, in its first NCAA Tournament game, became just the fifth No. 15 seed in the history of the event to post a win and the first to do so in 11 years. The Spartans stood toe-to-toe with the powerful Tigers, took a four-shot lead in the final minute and survived a last-second 3-point attempt by Missouri's Phil Pressey.
The unlikely victory propelled Norfolk State, champions of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Tournament, into a third-round meeting with Florida Sunday. Missouri, which captured the Big 12 tourney to earn its No. 2 seeding, played its final basketball game as a member of that conference.
The 6-10, 240 pound O'Quinn, who was awarded a basketball scholarship after playing football at Norfolk State, scored 26 points and grabbed 14 rebounds. He was at the core of every key play down the stretch, both good and bad.
Related
O'Quinn rebounded a missed shot by teammate Chris McEachin with 35 seconds to go and scored on a layup as he was being fouled. He added the free throw to give Norfolk State an 84-81 lead.
When Norfolk State's Rodney McCauley missed a free throw with 8 seconds left, O'Quinn was there to create a tie ball situation and the possession arrow pointed in his team's favor.
O'Quinn was then fouled with 4 seconds left and Norfolk State in front by two but he missed both free throw chances to give Missouri a chance to pull out the win. That chance disappeared when Pressey misfired on his heavily guarded 3-point try.
Pendarvis Williams and McEachin both added 20 points for the Spartans (26-9).
Michael Dixon had 22 points off the bench for the Tigers (30-5) while Pressey and Marcus Denmon had 20 each. Missouri, which heads to the Southeastern Conference next year, shot 52 percent from the field, made 13-of-29 shots from 3-point range, turned the ball over just eight times and still lost.
