SALEM, Va. (AP) -Troy Ruths scored 19 of his 30 points in the second half to help Washington of Missouri beat Hope 89-74 on Friday night in the NCAA Division III semifinals.
Aaron Thompson scored all of his 15 points for Washington (24-6) in the second half, 13 of them in a row. Tyler Nading also had 15 points, and Danny O’Boyle added 12.
Derek VanSolkema led Hope (27-4) with 19 points. Jesse Reimink added 15 and Marcus Vanderheide had 10.
The Bears will face Amherst for the national championship Saturday, while Hope will play Ursinus in the third-place game.
The lead changed 11 times in the first half. Hope led 33-32 at the break.
In the second half, Washington took the lead at 36-35, but the Flying Dutchmen tied it three times before the Bears went ahead for good when Thompson’s 3-pointer made it 49-46 with 13:19 left.
Ruths was 11-of-15 from the field and 8-of-9 at the line.
Washington shot 56 percent from the floor, 65 percent in the second half. The Bears also shot 85 percent from the free-throw line.
The Bears’ largest lead was 17 after Nading hit two free throws to make it 87-70.
Washington is in the tournament for the second straight year after finishing third last year. Hope last made the final in 1998.
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