Otterbein 102, Elizabethtown 83
SALEM, Virginia – Kevin Shay, Jeff Gibbs, and Tony Borghese combined for 75 points to lead Otterbein to a 102-83 win against Elizabethtown in the final of the 2002 Division III Men’s Basketball Championships at the Salem Civic Center. (The box score, plus full 2002 bracket and results.)

Gibbs, the tournament’s Most Valuable Player, had 25 points and a championship series record 25 rebounds for Otterbein (30-3). Shay hit 10 of 20 shots from the field, 4-of-6 threes, and 5-of-6 free throws for a game-high 29 points. Borghese netted 11 of 14 free throws on his way to a 21-point, eight-assist performance.

Brian Loftus and Bob Porambo scored 17 apiece to led four Elizabethtown (29-3) players in double-digits. Jon English added 14 and Iab Daecher had 10 for the Blue Jays.

Trailing 74-72 in the game’s final eight minutes, Otterbein rattled off a 16-0 run over the next 3:27 to claim the title. Borghese had eight points in the run, connecting on a three and hitting five free throws.

Elizabethtown twice led by double-digits, and held a 54-48 advantage thanks to a 51.3% (20-of-39) field goal percentage in the opening half. Otterbein connected at a 45.0% (18-of-40) pace, and held a 23-20 rebounding advantage.

Otterbein connected on 57.7% (15-of-26) shots in the second half on its way to a 50.0% (33-of-66) pace in the game. The Cardinals also outscored Elizabethtown 48-18 over the final 14 minutes of the game.

Gibbs set NCAA Division III Tournament records with 83 total rebounds, while his 16.6 average in the tournament is also a record. The 6-3 senior also grabbed 40 rebounds in the two-game championship series. He was joined on the All-Tournament Team by Shay and Porambo. Rochester’s Seth Hauben and Carthage’s Jason Wiertel rounded out the All-Tournament Team.