BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - Terrence Hill scored 26 to lead Kennesaw State to an 84-59 win over Southern Indiana and its first division II national championship Saturday.
Kennesaw State (35-4) used a smothering defense that had Southern Indiana (28-7) out of sync and struggling from 3-point range.
Hill was 8-of-16 from the field and hit four 3-pointers for the Owls. He also had seven rebounds and was named the tournament's most outstanding player.
Kennesaw center Georgy Joseph scored 15 with nine rebounds and joined Hill on the all-tournament team.
Southern Indiana, making its first appearance in the tournament since winning the 1995 national championship, got 15 points and 10 rebounds from Randy Holbrook. Former DePaul player John Oden scored 11.
The Screaming Eagles, who were 17-of-47 on 3-pointers in their first two games of the eight-team tournament, went 4-for-17 in the final.
Southern Indiana took an early 10-2 lead, but an 11-2 run gave the Owls the lead for good.
