Oakwood makes finals with 82-78 win over Apprentice School

BROKEN ARROW, OKLA. - James Doggette scored 23 points and had seven rebounds to lead three in double figures for sixth-seeded Oakwood University as they held off second-seeded Apprentice School 82-78 in the USCAA Semifinals on Friday afternoon.

The Builders opened the game on an 8-2 spurt before the Ambassadors eventually took their first lead at 17-16 on a pair of James Doggette free throws with 10:02 left.  Oakwood, a Seventh-Day Adventist school in Huntsville, Alabama, held the lead through out the first half though the Builders cut it to one with 2:58 left on a pair of Warren Cherry free throws.

In the second half, the Ambassadors' advantage grew to 11 points on four occasions with a Ronald Bushner layup with 7:22 remaining making it 70-59.  The Builders scored the nexst nine points capped by a Jason Arrington pair of foul shots to cut that deficit to 70-68 with four minutes left. 

Apprentice School had a final chance as Oakwood called a timeout after they ran out of timeouts.  Antione Paige hit one of two from the line cutting the lead to 77-74 with 75 seconds left.  Joe hit a jumper in the paint with 43 seconds left cutting the deficit to 77-76, but Oakwood hit enough foul shots down the stretch to keep Apprentice School away.

Paige had 18 points and Arrington added 17 for Apprentice School, while Doggette was the leading scorer for Oakwood with 23.