March 1, 2008 - The Fontbonne University men's basketball earned their second straight bid to the NCAA Div. III National Basketball Tournament by beating Maryville University today 73-72 and winning the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) Post Season Tournament. The victory improved the Griffins overall record to 21-6, the program's best since 1993-94.

Fontbonne fell behind early in the first half as the Griffins had a tough time shooting the ball. Fontbonne shot only 29 percent in the opening 20 minutes and went 1-10 from behind the arc. Maryville meanwhile had a good offensive rythm as they connected on 47 percent of their attempts in the first half and 42 percent from behind the arc. Maryville took a 41-31 lead into halftime.

In the early moments of the second half, Fontbonne let Maryville's lead balloon to 14 points. Fontbonne immediately made a run to get back into the game. Freshman Frank Sheetz provided an offensive spark for the Griffins hitting a big three point field goal. Fontbonne took its first lead of the second half when junior Brian Fogerty scored a lay-up with 5:42 remaining in the game.

For the final five minutes, Fontbonne and Maryville exchanged baskets with the lead never getting higher than four points. After sophomore Josh Branch missed a pair of free throws with five second to play, Maryville had a shot to win it at the buzzer but the shot didn't fall and the Griffins prevailed. Fontbonne was led by Fogerty, who earned All-Tournament Team honors, with 24 and Branch with 24 points. Senior Chad Fournie earned Tournament MVP honors.

This was the second straight year Fontbonne won the SLIAC Post Season Tournament. The Griffins will find out when and who they play when the NCAA announces the tournament field on Monday (March 3).