FRISCO, Texas – In a Final Four game worthy of Division II’s highest-scoring teams, No. 1 Lincoln Memorial overcame a 44-point performance by West Liberty’s Seger Bonifant to hang on for a 103-102 victory Thursday night.
The Hilltoppers (31-4) barely came up short in their search to reach a second national final, losing a game that featured 11 ties and 19 lead changes. LMU (34-2) only advanced after David Dennis’ desperation 30-foot heave skimmed off the rim at the buzzer.
“It was a great basketball game,” West Liberty coach Jim Crutchfield said. “I thought my guys played really well tonight but Lincoln Memorial played well, too. Yes, it was a tough loss and I would have loved to see us play in the national finals but I’m really proud of my team.”
Rail splitters coach Josh Schertz echoed Crutchfield’s comments.
“I’ve been doing this for 18 years,” Schertz said, “and I’ve never been a part of a game that good. That was two great teams just competing their brains out. We have an unbelievable amount of respect for West Liberty, their players, their program and Coach Crutchfield. What an incredible group of competitors.”
Bonifant, the national player of the year, closed out his record-setting career with a career-high night. He made 15-of-22 shots from the floor and 12-of-12 at the foul line. Dennis, the MEC’ top freshman, also set a career high with 26 points as they combined for 43 of West Liberty’s 49 second-half points.
Bonifant’s 44 points were the most points scored in an NCAA Division II semifinal game in 45 years and the third-highest total in Elite Eight history.
“I told our guys before the game that Bonifant was the best player I’ve ever seen at this level and we were able to hold him to what, 44 points?” Schertz joked. “He was incredible. It was an amazing game.”
Lincoln Memorial didn’t lack for weapons: Gerel Simmons led five players in double figures with 35 points and was the difference-maker down the stretch.
The 6-2 senior’s 3-pointer put LMU up 96-95 with 2:03 remaining, the Railsplitters’ first lead since the 7-minute mark. Bonifant hit two free throws for a 97-96 West Liberty edge with 1:36 to go but Simmons put his team back on top with a driving layup.
After a crucial turnover gave the ball back to Lincoln Memorial, Simmons drained a 3-pointer with 50 seconds left for a 101-97 lead.
The Hilltoppers weren’t finished. Mike Lamberti answered with a quick 3-pointer in transition and WLU got the ball back, trailing 101-100, after LMU’s Emanuel Terry missed to free throws with 27 seconds left.
West Liberty failed to score on its next two possessions while Lincoln Memorial made 2-of-4 free throws to keep it a one-possession game at 103-100 with 6 seconds to go.
LMU intentionally fouled Dennis the backcourt with 4 seconds left and he made both free throws to trim the deficit to 103-102.
“We’d seen enough of Bonifant shooting,” Schertz said. “We weren’t going to give them a chance to tie it with a 3.”
West Liberty fouled Terry again and the LMU center once more went 0-for-2 from the line. On WLU’s last chance, Dennis was able to race across midcourt before launching the last shot that sailed long off the back of the rim.
Bonifant had four rebounds, three assists and a steal to go along with his huge scoring night, while Dennis stuffed the stat sheet with eight rebounds, five assists and a steal.
“Like coach said, it hurts,” Bonifant said, “but it would have hurt a lot more if we had lost and not played well. I couldn’t be prouder of my teammates, our coaching staff and our fans. We have to have the best fans in the nation. We really appreciate so many of them spending the money and taking the time out of their own lives to come down here and support us. I’m proud to be a Hilltopper and I will be for the rest of my life.”
Devin Hoehn helped WLU survive a sizzling start by Lincoln Memorial, scoring all 11 of his points in the first half, while Lamberti closed out his career with 10 points and five rebounds. Zac Grossenbacher finished with six points, a game-high 10 rebounds and two blocked shots.
“It was a great game to be a part of,” Lamberti said. “I thought for the most part we played really good defense but they made some really tough contested shots in the first half and never cooled off. We went back and forth all night and just came up a little short at the end.”
Simmons had seven assists for the Railsplitters while Pinson finished with 17 points and 10 assists. Jalen Steele added 19 points with five 3-pointers despite missing several minutes in the second half with a leg injury. Despite his foul shooting woes, Terry was a force in the paint with 8 points, 7 rebounds and 6 blocked shots.
The No. 1-ranked Railsplitters will play for their first national championship on Saturday against No. 2 Augustana (33-2), who cruised past No. 3 Western Oregon 74-55 in Thursday’s late semifinal.