The 2009 NCAA Division II men's basketball tournament involved 64 schools playing in a single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division II college basketball as a culmination of the 2008âÂÂ09 basketball season. It began on March 14, 2008, and concluded as the Findlay Oilers defeated the Cal Poly Pomona Broncos 56âÂÂ53 in overtime on March 28.
Location: Christenberry Fieldhouse Host: Augusta State University
Location: Jenkins Field House Host: Florida Southern College
Location: George Q. Cannon Activities Center Host: Brigham Young University-Hawai'i
Location: R/A Facility Host: Southwest Minnesota State University
Location: Hammermill Center Host: Gannon University
Location: CMU Fieldhouse Host: Central Missouri State University
Location: Pratt Recreation Center Host: Long Island University, C.W. Post Campus
Location: Houdeshell Court at Croy Gymnasium Host: University of Findlay
Location: MassMutual Center Hosts: American International College and Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
Cal Poly Pomona beat Augusta State in a Final Four victory 74âÂÂ70. The Jaguars were down by 11 with about 6 minutes to play, but rallied on a 14âÂÂ2 run that put them ahead, 68âÂÂ67. They only scored two points the rest of the game while the Broncos scored seven to win the game. They were led by Larry Gordon, who recorded 20 points and 11 rebounds.
In the Division II National Championship Game, top seeded Findlay Oilers played third-seeded Cal Poly Pomona Broncos. The Broncos, who had traveled 10,000 miles over the postseason, were losing to the undefeated Oilers for much of the game. Cal Poly Pomona managed to tie it at 18âÂÂ18 before the Oilers went on a 12âÂÂ2 run to lead by 10 at the half. Findlay widened the lead to 14 with slightly over 16 minutes left. That was the last time the Oilers scored for the next eight minutes while the Broncos recorded 13 straight points to come within one.
Walter Thompson, the point guard for the Broncos, made a three-pointer with 7:08 in regulation to tie the game at 38. They snatched the lead on the next possession at 41âÂÂ40. Cal Poly Pomona center Tobias Jahn added a point on his two free throws for a 42âÂÂ42 tie. With 1:42 left in the game, neither team managed to put points on the board. After Thompson missed a rebound on Austin Swift's attempted 3-pointer, the game went into overtime.
Throughout overtime, the lead changed several times. The game was tied at 53 with 24 seconds left on the clock. The Broncos' defense forced a held ball on Findlay with 2.4 seconds remaining, with possession to Findlay. On the inbounds play, Tyler Evans hit a three-pointer at the buzzerâÂÂhis only three of the gameâÂÂsealing the Oilers' victory by a score of 56âÂÂ53.