VALDOSTA, Ga. – Chris Metzger poured in a game-high 23 points on 10-of-12 shooting from the floor to lead No. 8 Flagler College to a 69-53 win over the University of West Georgia in a NCAA Division II South Region semifinal Sunday evening at The Complex.

Flagler, the top seed in the regional, extended its winning streak to 14 games and improved its overall record to 16-2. The Saints will watch the other semifinal tonight between The University of Alabama at Huntsville and Lee University. West Georgia, the No. 5-seed, concluded its season with a 14-8 record.

"I am really proud of our guys' preparation and effort," said head coach Chad Warner. "We have so much respect for all of these teams and know how tough it is to advance. We were fortunate to play well tonight and look forward to the opportunity to play for a regional championship."

The Saints got off to a quick start as Peach Belt Conference Player of the Year Jaizec Lottie scored the game's first seven points. He recorded his fourth double-double of the season with 18 points and 11 rebounds.

The Wolves answered by scoring the next nine points and later held a 19-14 lead after Jalen Sasser short jumper.

Flagler went on a 22-6 run over the next 9:41 to seize control of the game. A Chase Fiddler three-pointer got the run started and Derrick Ellis, Jr. sank a pair of free throws to knot the game at 19. Tyler Collier sank a triple to give Flagler a lead it would not relinquish (22-19).

The Saints held a 38-27 lead at the half.

Flagler maintained a double-figure lead for nearly the entire second half.

Fiddler added 12 points for the Saints while Ellis tallied a game-high six assists. Jalen Barr, the PBC Defender of the Year, grabbed seven rebounds, blocked four shots, and had three steals.

The Saints defense held the Wolves to 33.9 percent shooting from the field, which included a 31.3 mark in the first half.

Kadeim Jones led West Georgia with 16 points. Oronte' Anderson added 11 points, five assists, and four steals. All-Gulf South Conference East Division selection Michael Zabetakis was limited to 10 points below his season average with five points.

Flagler will play in the regional final on Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Valdosta, Georgia for the right to advance to the NCAA Division II National Championship at Evansville, Indiana, March 24-27.

NOTE: The last time Flagler won a national post-season tournament game was March 10, 2005 against Albertson College (now the College of Idaho), 82-70, in the first round of the NAIA Division II National Tournament.
 



 
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