The University of Sioux Falls enjoyed a 69-65 victory over No. 16 Grand View University this morning in the first round of the NAIA DII Basketball Tournament, but the Cougars are now set for a date with NAIA No.1 Walsh University (29-2 overall) of North Canton, Ohio.

The Cavaliers are guided by seventh year head coach Jeff Young, who has compiled a 165-36 career record, winning six straight American Mideast Conference titles. Under the tutelage of Young, the Cavaliers won the 2005 NAIA DII National Championship. WU averages 91.9 points per game and holds opponents to 60.6 points per game this year, suffering their only losses of the season to No. 14 Cedarville University and No. 15 University of St. Francis. USF and WU share no common opponents this season.

WU won their NAIA Tournament first round game against the University of Maine at Fort Kent in dominate fashion, taking a 97-69 win. Senior forward Ricky Jackson (6-7, 210) recorded a double-double with 24 points and 14 rebounds. Jackson is the eighth-leading scorer in the country, averaging 23.2 points per game, and also accumulates 8.2 rebounds per game.

Three other WU starters reached double-digit points today with senior Kyelce Cescato (6-10, 245), junior guard Lamaer Skeeter (6-0, 175) and junior guard Jeremy Shardo (6-3, 185) combining for 38 total points. Senior guard Brandon Speck (6-0, 175) came off the bench to dip in 16 points. Shardo is third in the nation with 193 total assists and has 64 steals this season.

USF won the only match-up in the series between the Cougars and Cavaliers, defeating WU 94-78 in NAIA Tournament for the 2001-2002 season.

The No. 17 Cougars and Cavaliers will face off Friday morning at 10:15 a.m. The game can be heard on KWSN.