The Cougars, who are making the trip to the NAIA Division II National Tournament for the fourth straight year and the eighth time overall, are currently 23-8 and ranked No. 12 in the final NAIA Division II poll. MVNU had its season-high 11-game winning streak stopped in the championship game of the American Mideast Conference Tournament with a 97-85 loss at top-seeded Walsh University, but the team received the fourth of 10 at-large berths into the tournament.

The Cougars rank fifth in NAIA Division II in three-pointers made per game (9.7) and scoring margin (+16.5 points per game) and ninth in three-point percentage (38.9 percent) and scoring offense (85.1). MVNU has posted a 6-7 record in the program’s seven previous trips and has lost each of the past two years in one-possession games to the eventual national champion - 77-74 to Oregon Institute of Technology in 2008 and 75-73 to MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) University in 2007.

Senior guard Ben Falkenberg leads the Cougars in scoring (19.3 points per game) and assists (129). He is also the leading free throw shooter in NAIA Division II at 90.8 percent, ranks sixth in the nation in three-pointers made per game (3.5), and is 12th in three-point percentage (45.3 percent). Senior forward Jadin Thomas adds 14.2 points and leads the team in rebounds (8.5 per game), blocked shots (39), and double-doubles (12), and senior guard Dan Borcherdt adds 11.5 points while nailing 91 three-pointers and shooting 90.9 percent at the free throw line. Sophomore guard Brandon Short (7.3 ppg and 49 steals), junior wing Travis Brown (6.4 ppg), junior post Bryce Sanborn (6.3 ppg and 6.0 rpg), and senior wing Andy Francis (6.2 ppg and 4.0 rpg) are also key contributors for MVNU.

“Going to Branson never gets old,” said MVNU coach Scott Flemming, who is 397-225 in 19 years at his alma mater and has been at the helm for all eight trips to the NAIA Division II National Tournament. I am really proud of this team, especially our seniors who are playing four a national championship for the fourth straight year.”

“Our prior experience should help us,” Flemming added. “We are coming in more healthy this year. We have a tough first-round matchup, but I believe we are ready for the challenge.”

The Cougars’ first-round opponent is no stranger to Branson either as the Bruins of Bellevue finished as the national runner-up last year to Oregon Tech - losing 63-56 in the title game. The Bruins, who are ranked No. 22 in the final NAIA Division II poll, are 22-8 on the season and received the final at-large berth into this year’s field after falling in the Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament semifinals to the College of the Ozarks. Bellevue is making its ninth trip to the tournament and has a 12-9 record in eight previous trips including two national runner-up finishes in 2004 and 2008.

As a team, the Bruins rank seventh in NAIA Division II in field goal percentage (49.7 percent) and eighth in scoring margin (+13.6 points per game). Bellevue averages 83.1 points and out-rebounds its opponents by 6.9 rebounds per game. The Bruins also connect on 6.0 three-pointers per game at a 35.4 percent clip.

Individually, senior forward Kyle Prochaska averages a double-double of 13.9 points and 10.9 rebounds as he ranks fifth nationally in double-doubles with 16. Prochaska also ranks fifth in the nation in rebounds per game, sixth in offensive rebounds per game (3.9), and ninth in field goal percentage (58.8 percent). Senior forward Jerrod Tucker (13.0 ppg), junior guard Ron King (12.0 ppg), and senior guard Davon White (10.6 ppg) also average in double figures for balanced Bellevue.

Wednesday’s game, which will be the first-ever meeting between the two teams, can be heard live on WNZR 90.9 FM or online at http://wnzr.fm/sports.html. Fans can also purchase a live video feed of the game by going to http://www.watchnaia.com and choosing a subscription package.

The winner of the game between MVNU and Bellevue will advance to the second round of the tournament on Friday at 10:15 a.m. CST against the winner of Wednesday’s game between No. 7 seed and defending national champion Oregon Tech (28-5) and unseeded Iowa Wesleyan University (20-10).