1998 Championship

1998 NAIA D-II National Championship Game at Idaho Center Nampa, Idaho

Bethel 89, Oregon Tech 87

The coronation of Bethel as the kings of NAIA D-II basketball came from a favorite recipe with a master chef mixing the happiness.

As Rico Swanson’s 17-footer with :01.6 seconds left against Oregon Tech fell gently through the net, Swanson’s name, along with his Pilots’ teammates, became firmly etched in the history of college basketball.

That shot gave Bethel its second straight NAIA D-II National Championship, 89-87, and allowed the Pilots to become the first three-time champions in NAIA D-II history.

“Rico Time,” as winning time was called for Bethel basketball, not only came on the game-winning shot, but on the defensive end as well.

With the game tied at 87 and over :20 left on the clock, Oregon Tech’s Kevin Carlston drove for the bucket. Knifing around a defender at the top of the key, the 6-foot-1 inch All-American had a clean path to the bucket. But like a Venus fly trap, the Pilots defense collapsed toward the bottom of the lane. With defenders Jeff Hobson and Ryan Watson in position to draw a charge, Carlston began to gather himself for a lay-up.

But Swanson had other ideas. He swiped at the ball as Carlston went by, dislodging the apparent five-foot runner. The ball came loose, and according to script, Swanson came up with the ball.

As the sand drained from the hour glass, Swanson slowly worked the ball up court. He patiently waited for the right time to become a hero.

Ryan Bales came up to take a pass from Swanson, then quickly returned the ball to the man whom an out-of-town reporter dubbed, “The Michael Jordan of the NAIA.” Like his counter-part in Chicago, Rico knew what to do with the game on the line.

The senior, about to attempt the final shot of his storied college career, feigned penetration. That gave Swanson space to shoot over his defender, some three inches taller than himself. Rico stopped about a step inside the 3-point line along the right wing. His fading, twisting jumper gently nestled through the twines with :01.6 to go.

A desperation inbounds pass by the Owls was thwarted out of bounds at half-court by J.D. Hershberger. With not enough time left to get off a shot, the game was over.

With the win, the Pilots became just the third college in basketball history to win five national championships in seven seasons and the 24th to win back-to-back national titles. The Class of 1998 completed their careers with 144 wins, the third most of any class in the history of college basketball.

The road to the Pilots’ place in history was not without its share of potholes and detours. But like an explorer in the wilderness, Bethel was determined to go where no team had ever gone, back-to-back NAIA D-II National Championships.

In a strange draw of the tournament bracket, the top four seeds had the first day of the tournament off. That meant that the Pilots would have to win five games in six days to claim the crown.

For the second time in three seasons, Bethel entered the tournament as the top seed. First up was Southwestern (KS), which the Pilots beat, 102-86. Bethel’s second-round opponent was Briar Cliff (IA), the 16th seed which finished rated 14th in the final poll. The Chargers led by as much as 13 in the first half before the Pilots regrouped by half-time. Bethel biggest lead was only nine, as free throws from Ryan Watson and Ryan Bales sealed the win, 107-100. Eric Brand led with 30 points.

Up next was Whitworth (WA), the eighth seed that was rated fifth in the final poll. The Pirates raced to an eight-point lead in the first two minutes of the game, and enjoyed a double-digit lead most of the first half. Jeff Nix’s two free throws with 6:37 to go gave the Pirates a comfortable 11-point lead, 79-68. Nix hit one free throw to give the Pirates a nine-point margin, 84-75, with 2:37 left in the season. Phil Ruebel hit one of two Whitworth free throws with 2:05 to go to give the Pirates an eight-point cushion, 85-77.

Bethel continued to chip away the best it could. Now forced to go with a four-guard lineup because Brand fouled out, the Pilots were forced to foul and wait; foul and wait; foul and wait. It was a strategy that ultimately worked.

J.D. Hershberger was fouled with :40.7 to go, and canned both free throws, 85-83. Rico stole the inbounds pass and passed to Hershberger, who hit a lay-up to tie the game at 85 with :38.6 seconds left in A Whitworth turnover gave Bethel the ball with :31. left.

As the Pilots ran their offense, Swanson flashed to the top of the key. He nailed a 3-pointer with :02.2 left. The shot gave the Pilots their only lead of the game, 88-85.

“The coach said to get me the ball, so that’s what we did,” said Swanson, who scored 30 with seven rebounds and seven steals. “The shot went in, and I thank the Lord for that, for giving me the ability.”

Up next was Mount Marty (SD). The Lancers advanced to the Fabulous Four with two heart-stopping wins over fourth seeded Siena Heights and fifth-seeded Mount Vernon Nazarene. Coach Jim Thorson’s squad entered the game with a 23-8 mark and were rated 11th in the final poll and seeded 13th.

Mac Rops’ lay-up with 15:33 left in the game gave Mount Marty its biggest lead of the second half, 62-49. The Pilots defense stiffened, and the shots began to fall.

Mount Marty was scoreless nearly four minutes as the Pilots went on a 16-0 run. Bales scored eight and Swanson five in the spurt as Bethel took its first lead, 65-62, with 12:01 left in the game.

Mount Marty wasn’t done, however. The Lancers regrouped and stayed at arms length. With just over five minutes left, Brock Rops canned a triple to give the Yankton, South Dakota school the lead, 79-78. Mount Marty built its lead to three, 86-83, on Mac Rops’ bucket with 3:18 left.

Watson chipped in a pair of free throws with 2:39 left, then Swanson stole the inbounds pass. He got the ball to Brand, who was fouled on the shot. His free throw tied the game at 86 with 2:35 remaining.

Both teams struggled offensively down the stretch. The Lancers missed two shots and the Pilots one before Brand hit a bucket with 1:24 left to give Bethel a slim lead, 88-86. After a pair of Bethel misses, the Lancers had the ball and :16.5 to pull off yet another upset.

Brock Rops was forced into a 30-foot triple attempt with :03 left. The shot missed, but Lancer forward Aaron Kranz had the rebound and the open shot. His put-back missed, and the Pilots escaped with another last-second victory.

March 18, 1998 at the Idaho Center

BETHEL (89): Bales 25, Brand 19, Swanson 14, Watson 11, Edison 5, Hershberger 9, Hobson 6, Coolman 0.

OREGON TECH (87): Abdur-Rahman 4, Foster 21, Townsend 14, Carlston 18, Conrad 13, Maerz 2, Woodson 5, Regan 2, Kaiser 0, Hammericksen 8. TOTALS: 31 15-16 87.

Half-time: Bethel 50, OIT 45. 3-pointers: OIT 10 (Carlston 4, Townsend 2, Hammericksen 2, Conrad, Woodson); Bethel 6 (Bales 4, Edison, Swanson). Rebounds: OIT 43 (Foster 11, Townsend 11), Bethel 36 (Swanson 10, Bales 7)

Records: OIT: 35-5, Bethel: 37-3

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