Missouri Southern State College fell just short of the Division Two national championship game, losing in the final seconds of the semi-finals. Metro State eliminated Missouri Southern, 75-74. The game was tied at 74 in the final seconds, when Missouri Southern’s Osiris Ricardo missed a jumper. In a scramble for the loose rebound, Carlos Escalera was called for a foul with 1.5 seconds left. Shane Ah Matt hit one free throw to win it for Metro State. Escalera led the Lions with 19 points. Missouri Southern shot 56 percent from the field, but could not overcome 21 turnovers. Metro State will face Kentucky Wesleyan in a rematch of last year’s championship game, the first time in Division II that two teams have met in back-to-back title games. Missouri Southern finishes the year 30-3.
