The No. 2 seed Cougars (23-7), who are ranked No. 12 in the most recent NAIA Division II poll, will bring an 11-game winning streak into Walsh’s Alumni Arena after posting an 81-66 victory over No. 3 seed University of Northwestern Ohio in the semifinals on Saturday. MVNU ranks ninth in the nation in scoring offense by averaging 85.1 points per contest and is fifth in three-pointers made per game (9.7). The Cougars are also ninth in the nation shooting 39.1 percent from three-point range (292-for-746).

Individually, senior guard Ben Falkenberg leads the team in scoring (19.2 points per game) and assists (126) as well as leading all of NAIA Division II shooting 91.3 percent at the free throw line (115-for-126). He is also sixth in the nation in three-pointers made per game (3.5) and 13th in three-point percentage (45.8 percent). Senior forward Jadin Thomas adds 14.1 points and leads the team in rebounds (8.7 per game) and blocked shots (38). Senior guard Dan Borcherdt contributes 11.3 points per game and has nailed 87 three-pointers, while sophomore guard Brandon Short (7.4 ppg), junior wing Travis Brown (6.5 ppg), senior wing Andy Francis (6.3 ppg), and junior post Bryce Sanborn (5.9 ppg and 5.9 rpg) add to the balanced attack.

Top-seeded Walsh (26-3), which is ranked No. 4 in NAIA Division II, will put the longest active winning streak in NAIA Division II at 14 games on the line after rallying for a 70-63 victory over No. 5 seed Notre Dame College on Saturday in the semifinals. The Cavaliers, who have won 19 straight home games and gone 40-1 at home over the past three years, lead NAIA Division II in three-point shooting percentage at 43.7 percent, rank second in scoring margin (21.4 points per game) and total rebound margin (11.3 rebounds per game), are third in team field goal percentage (50.5 percent), and stand fifth in scoring offense (86.4 points). Walsh is also shooting 74.0 percent from the free throw line, which ranks 10th in the nation, and has nailed 8.8 three-pointers per contest.

Individually, Joe Shardo leads the Cavaliers by averaging 18.1 points and 6.4 rebounds to go with 75 three-pointers made and an 83.0 free throw percentage. Meanwhile, brother Jeremy Shardo adds 14.5 points and leads all NAIA Division II players with 235 assists. Kyelce Cescato (14.3 ppg and 8.4 rpg) and Brandon Speck (12.2 ppg and 93 treys) are also key contributors for Walsh, which has three players averaging more than 30 minutes played per game and typically plays just eight players.

This will be the second meeting of the year between the two schools with the Cavaliers prevailing at home 85-68 back on January 3. In that game, Walsh shot 62.1 percent in the second half to break open a game that was tied 38-38 two minutes into the second half. Jeremy Shardo paced the Cavaliers with 24 points and seven assists, while Speck finished with 17 points. MVNU was led by Borcherdt with 19 points, and Thomas added 13 points and six rebounds.

The winner of Tuesday’s game earns the AMC’s second automatic berth into the NAIA Division II National Tournament in Branson, Mo., while the loser is also lock to receive an at-large berth when the final poll comes out and the 32-team field is announced Wednesday afternoon at 3:00 p.m. CST. A win would also theoretically help the seeding for either team as well in addition to earning the AMC Tournament championship trophy.

Follow all the live action of the game on WNZR 90.9 FM and also online at http://wnzr.fm/sports.html by clicking on the men’s basketball link.