As a prelude to Elite Eight weekend, the Division II Championship was decided on Saturday afternoon and the Western Washington Vikings took home their first title in school history, a history that includes 110 years of basketball. WWU defeated Montevallo 72-65 in a game that went down to the final minute, with the Vikings hitting their free-throws and getting stops to keep it a two-possession game and clinch the title.
NCAA Division II Basketball Championship: Western Washington Captures First Title In School History
Western Washington shot the ball well and spread the wealth around with five players in double figures. They hit 54 percent from the floor and 47 percent from behind the arc. Chris Mitchell, a 6'8" center, drilled four of five attempts from three-point range and scored 13 points for Brad Jackson's club. John Allen led all Vikings with 14 points but it was a true team effort on the offensive end.
DJ Rivera and Antoine Davis kept the Falcons close but Montevallo could never quite pull it even after WWU went on a run mid way through the second half. Rivera finished with a game-high 20 points but was just one of six from downtown. Davis added 16 points on six of nine from the floor but other than Rivera, he had little help on the offensive end. The Western Washington defense stepped up over the final five minutes, forcing a series of empty possessions for Montevallo and sealing the school’s first title
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