# 2015 NAIA Division II men's basketball tournament

The 2015 NAIA Division II Men’s Basketball national championship was held in March at Keeter Gymnasium in Point Lookout, Missouri. The 24th annual NAIA basketball tournament featured thirty-two teams playing in a single-elimination format. The championship game was won by Cornerstone University of Grand Rapids, Michigan over Dakota Wesleyan University of Mitchell, South Dakota by a score of 66 to 45.

## Tournament field

The 2015 tournament field was announced on March 14 in a live selection show. The field is made up of 23 automatic qualifiers and eight at-large bids and one automatic host bid presented to College of the Ozarks. This tournament field welcomed the return of four out of the last five champions, led by defending champion and top seed Indiana Wesleyan University along with Cardinal Stritch, Cornerstone, and Saint Francis. There were four newcomers to the bracket, Brescia, Northwestern Ohio, Olivet Nazarene and St. Francis of Illinois.
The complete field consists of Ashford, Bellevue, Bethel, Brescia, Briar Cliff, Cal Maritime, Cardinal Stritch, Concordia, Cornerstone, Dakota State, Davenport, Embry-Riddle, Friends, Grace, College of Idaho, Indiana University East, Indiana Wesleyan, Midland, Milligan, Morningside, Mount Mercy, Northwestern Ohio, Olivet Nazarene, College of the Ozarks, Saint Francis, Saint Thomas, Southern Oregon, Tabor, Union, and Warner Pacific.

## Highlights
### Fab Four

The fifth ranked Dakota Wesleyan Tigers came back from a twelve point deficit to defeat the College of Idaho Yotes 88-80 and advance to the NAIA championship game. On the other side of the bracket, Davenport hit three free throws in the final six seconds to secure a 79-75 win over defending champion Indiana Wesleyan.

### Championship game

Cornerstone won their third national championship, defeating Dakota Wesleyan 66-45 behind a twenty-four point performance by Ben Lanning.

## Tourney awards and honors

* Dr. James Naismith/Emil Liston Team Sportsmanship Award: Southern Oregon

### Individual recognition

* Most Outstanding Player: Dominez Burnett, Davenport
* Championship Hustle Award: Luke Bamberg, Dakota Wesleyan
* NABC/NAIA Division II Coach of the Year: Kim Elders, Cornerstone
* Rawlings-NAIA Division II National Coach of the Year: Matt Wilber, Dakota Wesleyan
* 2015 NAIA Division II Men’s Basketball All-Championship Team
| Name | School |
| Dominez Burnett* | Davenport |
| Bishop Robinson | Davenport |
| Trae Bergh | Dakota Wesleyan |
| Jalen Voss | Dakota Wesleyan |
| Kris Menning | Dakota Wesleyan |
| Ben Lanning | Cornerstone |
| Travis Wells | Cornerstone |
| DeForest Carter | Embry-Riddle |
| Cesar Pastrana | Embry-Riddle |
| Dalton Barnes | Embry-Riddle |

### Statistical leaders

(minimum 4 games)
| Category | Player | School | Tally |
| Most points | Jalen Voss | Dakota Wesleyan | 106 |
| Most points per game | Dominez Burnett | Davenport | 21.25 |
| Leading rebounder | Ben Lanning | Cornerstone | 59 |
| Leading rebounder per game | Ben Lanning | Cornerstone | 11.8 |
| Most assists | DeForest Carter | Embry-Riddle | 45 |
| Assists per game | DeForest Carter | Embry-Riddle | 11.25 |
| Assist/Turnover ratio | Martin Tate | Dakota Wesleyan | 5.33 |
| Three-pointers made | Trae Bergh | Dakota Wesleyan | 16 |
| Best overall field goal percentage | Cesar Pastrana | Embry-Riddle | 71.4% (25-35) |
| Best 3-point field goal percentage | Dominez Burnett | Davenport | 77.8% (7-9) |
| Most free throws made | Cesar Pastrana (Tie) | Embry-Riddle | 24 |
| Most free throws made | Kyle Steigenga (Tie) | Cornerstone | 24 |
| Best free throw percentage | Ty Mason | Cornerstone | 92.9% (13-14) |
| Most steals | DeForest Carter | Embry-Riddle | 21 |
| Most steals per game | DeForest Carter | Embry-Riddle | 5.25 |
| Most shots blocked | Ben Lanning | Cornerstone | 7 |
| Most shots blocked per game | Ben Lanning | Cornerstone | 1.4 |

## Bracket

| First round March 11–12 | First round March 11–12 | First round March 11–12 | Second round March 13 | Second round March 13 | Second round March 13 | Quarterfinals March 14 | Quarterfinals March 14 | Quarterfinals March 14 | | Semifinals March 16 | Semifinals March 16 | Semifinals March 16 | | National championship March 17 | National championship March 17 | National championship March 17 |
| 1 | Indiana Wesleyan | 77 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Brescia | 56 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Brescia | 56 | 1 | Indiana Wesleyan | 79 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 16 | Warner Pacific | 71 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 16 | Warner Pacific | 79 | 16 | Warner Pacific | 71 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Olivet Nazarene | 54 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Olivet Nazarene | 54 | | | | 1 | Indiana Wesleyan | 75 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 8 | Davenport | 79 | | | | | | | | |
| 9 | Mount Mercy | 64 | | | | | | | 8 | Davenport | 79 | | | | | | | | |
| | Cal Maritime | 61 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Cal Maritime | 61 | 9 | Mount Mercy | 67 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 8 | Davenport | 70 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 8 | Davenport | 68 | 8 | Davenport | 70 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Briar Cliff | 66 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Briar Cliff | 66 | | | | | | | | 8 | Davenport | 51 | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 5 | Dakota Wesleyan | 80 | | | | |
| 5 | Dakota Wesleyan | 98 | | | | | | | | | | | 5 | Dakota Wesleyan | 80 | | | | |
| | Milligan | 55 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Milligan | 55 | 5 | Dakota Wesleyan | 65 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | Ashford | 49 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 12 | Bethel | 57 | | Ashford | 49 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Ashford | 83 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Ashford | 83 | | | | 5 | Dakota Wesleyan | 88 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 4 | College of Idaho | 80 | | | | | | | | |
| 13 | College of the Ozarks | 69 | | | | | | | 4 | College of Idaho | 80 | | | | | | | | |
| | Cardinal Stritch | 78 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Cardinal Stritch | 78 | | Cardinal Stritch | 80 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 4 | College of Idaho | 99 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 4 | College of Idaho | 65 | 4 | College of Idaho | 99 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Dakota State | 64 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Dakota State | 64 | | | | | | | | | | | | 5 | Dakota Wesleyan | 45 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3 | Cornerstone | 66 |
| 3 | Cornerstone | 74 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3 | Cornerstone | 66 |
| | St. Thomas | 58 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | St. Thomas | 58 | 3 | Cornerstone | 97 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 14 | Concordia | 78 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 14 | Concordia | 116 | 14 | Concordia | 78 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Indiana University East | 90 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Indiana University East | 90 | | | | 3 | Cornerstone | 75 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 11 | Saint Francis (Ind.) | 64 | | | | | | | | |
| 11 | Saint Francis (Ind.) | 70 | | | | | | | 11 | Saint Francis (Ind.) | 64 | | | | | | | | |
| | Saint Francis (Ill.) | 68 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Saint Francis (Ill.) | 68 | 11 | Saint Francis | 72 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 6 | Morningside | 70 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 6 | Morningside | 86 | 6 | Morningside | 70 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Tabor | 79 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Tabor | 79 | | | | | | | | 3 | Cornerstone | 91 | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 2 | Embry-Riddle | 81 | | | | |
| 7 | Bellevue | 50 | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | Embry-Riddle | 81 | | | | |
| | Grace | 54 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Grace | 54 | | Grace | 62 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | Southern Oregon | 68 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 10 | Midland | 71 | | Southern Oregon | 68 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Southern Oregon | 73 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Southern Oregon | 73 | | | | | Southern Oregon | 71 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 2 | Embry-Riddle | 79 | | | | | | | | |
| 15 | Union | 64 | | | | | | | 2 | Embry-Riddle | 79 | | | | | | | | |
| | Northwestern Ohio | 58 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Northwestern Ohio | 58 | 15 | Union | 75 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 2 | Embry-Riddle | 89 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 2 | Embry-Riddle | 76 | 2 | Embry-Riddle | 89 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Friends | 47 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

## Epilogue

When the NAIA Division II Men’s Basketball All-America Teams, almost all the players were represented at the national tournament, with a few notable exceptions including Lawrence Jackson of Northwestern Ohio, Jordan Nelson of Waldorf, Andre Winston of Southeastern.
NAIA Division II Men’s Basketball All-America Teams
1st Team
| Name | School | Hometown |
| Dominez Burnett* | Davenport | Flint, Michigan |
| DeForest Carter | Embry-Riddle | Big Cypress, Florida |
| Grant Greenberg | Saint Mary | Leavenworth, Kansas |
| Johnny Marlin | Indiana Wesleyan | Greenwood, Indiana |
| Steve O’Neill | Morningside | Council Bluffs, Iowa |
| Matt Schauss | Bethel | Greens Fork, Indiana |
| Tony Smit | Cardinal Stritch | Fond du Lac, Wisconsin |
| Kyle Steigenga | Cornerstone | Holland, Michigan |
| Jalen Voss | Dakota Wesleyan | Worthington, Minnesota |
| Josh Wilson | College of Idaho | Los Angeles, California |
* - denotes NAIA/NABC Player of the Year
2nd Team
| Name | School | Hometown |
| Lawrence Jackson | Northwestern, Ohio | Rocky Mount, North Carolina |
| Jordan Nelson | Waldorf | Neenah, Wisconsin |
| Dondre Osborn | Mount Mercy | Zion, Illinois |
| Demetrius Perkins | College of Idaho | Compton, California |
| Tobin Reinwald | Hastings | Lincoln, Nebraska |
| Alex Starkel | Midland | Norfolk, Nebraska |
| Zach Steinmetz | Lourdes | Toledo, Ohio |
| Tim Weber | Southern Oregon | Roseburg, Oregon |
| Andre Winston | Southeastern | Tacoma, Washington |
| Clay Yeo | Bethel | Bourbon, Indiana |
3rd Team
| Name | School | Hometown |
| Brandon Cole | Bryan | Crossville, Tennessee |
| Brandon Eley | AIB | Zearing, Iowa |
| Austin Fox | Saint Francis (Ind) | Muncie, Indiana |
| Ilya Ilyayev | Saint Francis (Ill) | Los Angeles, California |
| Aaron Larson | Olivet Nazarene | Tolono, Illinois |
| Alex Starkel | Midland | Norfolk, Nebraska |
| Ben Lenning | Cornerstone | Grandville, Michigan |
| Kris Menning | Dakota Wesleyan | Corsica, South Dakota |
| Austin Morris | Brescia | Evansville, Indiana |
| Brequan Tucker | Jamestown | Joliet, Illinois |
Honorable Mention
| Name | School | Hometown |
| Bryant Allen | Dakota State | Maplewood, Missouri |
| Trey Bardsley | Nebraska Wesleyan | Beatrice, Nebraska |
| Cameron Clark | Southwestern | Lewisville, Texas |
| Derek Daniels | College of the Ozarks | Mountain View, Missouri |
| Jeremy Comer | Presentation | Indianapolis, Indiana |
| Nick Frazier | St. Ambrose | Bellwood, Illinois |
| Warren Hall | Warner (Fla.) | Tampa, Florida |
| Logan Irwin | Grace (Ind.) | South Whitley, Indiana |
| Deante Johnson | Union College (Kentucky) | Cincinnati, Ohio |
| Jack Krieger | Saint Xavier (Illinois) | Plainfield, Illinois |
| Percy Lemle | Bellevue (Nebraska) | Carson, California |
| Gabriel Martinez | Northern New Mexico | Albuquerque, New Mexico |
| Alex Marzette | Robert Morris (Ill.) | Racine, Wisconsin |
| Fredricus Mattison | Northwood (Fla.) | Anderson, South Carolina |
| Diamontae McKinley | Ashford (Iowa) | Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
| Esvan Middleton | Concordia (Oregon) | Culver City, California |
| Cesar Pastrana | Embry-Riddle (Florida) | Cartagena, Colombia |
| Nathan Rindels | Dordt (Iowa) | Boulder, Colorado |
| Alec Schwab | William Penn (Iowa) | Peru, Illinois |
| Trey Scott | Waldorf (Iowa) | Fridley, Minnesota |
| Jake Simpson | Indiana University Southeast | Louisville, Kentucky |
| Dion Smith | Marian (Ind.) | Indianapolis, Ind. |
| Andrew Thomas | Tabor (Kansas) | Grenada |
| Eric Thompson | Southern Oregon | Roseburg, Oregon |
| Jerah’me Williams | Point Park (Pa.) | Youngstown, Ohio |