SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Basketball is often a game of runs, and the opening round of the NCAA Tournament was no different. Saint Martin's and Concordia went back and forth all game, until the final minutes. Luke Chavez's 18 points and eight rebounds carved the way for the Saints to advance past Concordia 63-60.
 
Saint Martin's opened the game on a 16-2 run, but the lead did not last long. Concordia managed to trim the lead down, and eventually in the second half, overtook the Saints. Each basket down the stretch felt like heavy weight punches as the two grinded to a 61-60 mark with 30 seconds left to go. Defense had been the theme of the game, and the Saints came up with two of their largest stops when they needed them the most. Chavez iced the game at the line and Saint Martin's advanced in the NCAA Tournament for the second straight season.
 
The opening four minutes could not have gone more to script for the Saints. Chavez connected on his opening two shots, and Jordan Kitchen showcased his GNAC Defensive Player of the Year skills with two monster blocks to highlight SMU's 16-2 opening run.
 
Concordia responded with a 9-0 run, as the Saints' offense was unable to find open shots. The Eagles turned to bench and worked the ball down low, scoring six straight in the paint. Rhett Baerlocher ended the Saints' five minute offensive drought with a jumper outside the paint to stretch the score to 19-11 with 9:16 left in the half.
 
The Eagles managed to trim the score down to one possession at 23-20 before the Saints responded from deep. EJ Boyce and Kitchen each stepped out and hit threes. Jared Mathews came off the bench to deliver a spark and his baseline layup put SMU back up by double-digits. In the final minutes, BJ Standley hit a turnaround jumper to help the Saints to a 33-24 halftime lead.
 
Concordia opened the second half on a 9-2 run to shorten the lead down to two points, the lowest it had been since the first basket of the game. What was a double-digit lead had vanished seven minutes into the second half, when Concordia took their first lead at 38-37. Eight made free throws helped spark the Eagles' offense as their lead grew to four.
 
Standley delivered two clutch layups, including an and-one before Mathews finished an old-fashion three to give SMU back a 47-45 lead with little over ten minutes left. Both sides traded baskets over the next few minutes as the score was tied 51-51.
 
Chavez who led the Saints in scoring in first half, went over 12 minutes without a point in the second half, until he stepped in a 3-pointer in front of his bench. The basket put SMU back on top 54-51.
 
Concordia connected on two more 3-pointers to regain a lead, while the Saints offense went quiet over the next couple minutes. SMU went six minutes without a field goal, and it's only point came on a free throw by Chavez.
 
Chavez snapped the streak with a baseline layup with 1:45 left, but the Eagles responded right back with a basket on the following possession. Standley, off a ball from Henderson scored to put SMU back on top by one. Concordia once again scored on the following possession.
 
With the game on the line, Pribble turned to his star player in Chavez once again. The senior created space and drove to rim, being fouled in act. At the line, Chavez hit his first two attempts to give SMU a 61-60 lead with 30 seconds left. After a defensive stand, Chavez hit two more free throws with nine seconds on the clock. Concordia was unable to get around Kitchen on the wing for an open 3-pointer, and the Saints held for the 63-60 victory.
 
Chavez led the way with 18 points and eight rebounds in 34 minutes of action. Kitchen added seven points, eight boards as well, along with two blocks. Standley was the only other Saint to reach double-figures, as the guard ended with 13 points off the bench. Mathews came through with seven points, and six rebounds in only 16 minutes. Boyce and Chandler Redix each accounted for six points, while Boyce grabbed five off the glass.
 
Saint Martin's finished the game 21-for-52 (40.4 percent) from the field, 6-for-20 (30.0 percent)  and 15-for-20 (75.0 percent) at the line. SMU grabbed 41 rebounds, six assists on 15 turnovers, along with eight steals and five blocks.
 
Saint Martin's will Seattle Pacific once again on Saturday at 5:00 p.m. Live stats and video of the game will be available on smusaints.com.