Last Updated:March 26. 2008 11:32PM
Published: March 27. 2008 3:30AM

SPNRINGFIELD, Mass. - It didn't take Casey Holt long to set a record in Wednesday's Division II Elite Eight quarterfinal game against Bentley.

Holt scored UNA's first basket with a short jumper less than two minutes into the game to become UNA's single-season scoring leader.

The senior, from Culleoka, Tenn., passed UNA legend Dabbs Earnest. Holt entered the game tied with Ernest with 625 points. Earnest set the mark in the 1961-62 season, and the record stood for 46 years.

"To be honest, it never crossed my mind," Holt said. "It's a nice accomplishment that I'll be able to look back on. This whole season has been a blessing for me. I just wish we could play another game."

Holt finished with 15 points, giving him 640 for the season. He also moved into ninth place on UNA's all-time scoring list with 1,220 points. He also set a UNA record by playing in 123 career games.

GSC drought



With UNA's loss in Wednesday's quarterfinal game, the Gulf South Conference has now lost seven consecutive games in the Elite Eight.

Montevallo had been the most recent GSC team to play in the Elite Eight. The Falcons lost 89-69 to Central Missouri last year and 79-65 to Seattle Pacific in 2006.

West Georgia lost its quarterfinal game in 2002, as did Delta State in 1998. UNA lost 71-68 to eventual national champion Fort Hays State in the quarterfinals in 1996. Jacksonville State lost to Cal-State-Bakersfield in its final year in Division II in 1992.

The GSC's last Elite Eight victory was UNA's 79-72 victory over Bridgeport in the 1991 national championship game.

UNA is the only current GSC team to have won a Division II basketball national championship, winning in 1979 and 1991. Jacksonville State, which left Division II after the 1992 season, won the 1985 national championship.

Player of the Year



The Elite Eight features several of the nation's top players, including Winona State's John Smith, who has been named Division II Player of the Year by the Daktronics and the National Association of Basketball Coaches.

Smith, a 6-foot-8 senior forward, led Winona State to the Elite Eight for the third consecutive season. He averaged 17.7 points per game this season and more than three blocked shots per game. Smith ranks second in Division II history with 420 blocked shots and eighth in rebounds with 1,317. Smith was a repeat winner as player of the year by the NABC.

Smith's Winona State teammate, senior guard Jonte Flowers, joined him on the first-team Daktronics All-America team.

Old man



California, (Pa.) featured the tournament's oldest player in 31-year-old Ron Banks. The 6-foot-6 forward from Lansing, Mich., was one of the main reasons the Vulcans advanced to the Elite Eight, averaging 15.6 points and 6.9 rebounds per game entering Wednesday's quarterfinal games.

Banks, however, had an off day Wednesday, scoring just four points as the Vulcans were eliminated with a 55-52 loss to Alaska-Anchorage.

Augusta State's players had to work overtime in their quarterfinal game against Central Oklahoma. In fact, they worked double-overtime before coming away with a 106-104 victory.

Augusta State guard Ben Madgen and Central Oklahoma forward Sam Belt both played 46 of the 50 minutes. The Jaguars had three other players go more than 40 minutes. Augusta State had two players foul out to just one for Central Oklahoma.

Jeff McIntyre can be reached at 740-5737 or jeff.mcintyre@timesdaily.com.