Waldorf College kept Clarke University at bay Wednesday night in the opening round of the 2012 Midwest Collegiate Conference Championships and Coach Jerry Drymon's Crusaders couldn't solve the Warriors puzzle this winter.

Waldorf (14-12) made it three wins in as many games against the Crusaders this season with a 76-70 win at the Robert and Ruth Kehl Center. The Warriors will now face top-seeded St. Ambrose University in Friday's MCC semifinal round, while Clarke finishes the season with a 19-11 mark.

Waldorf led 33-29 at intermission and led for all but 30 seconds in the final 20 minutes of play. Clarke took its only lead of the second half at the 12:02 mark when Brian O'Donnell canned a jumper.

Waldorf shot just 41 percent from the field, but the Warriors benefited from a big advantage at the charity stripe, where the visitors cashed in on 22 of 25 attempts (88 percent). Clarke toed the line just 10 times, going 5-of-10. The Crusaders shot an even 50 percent (31-62) from the field.

Clarke junior Kris Brooks led Clarke with 17 points. Charles Nunn finished his career with 16 points and eight rebounds, while senior Craig Christopher chipped in 10 points. Brooks was 8-of-11 from the field.

Mitch Barrett-Burrell led Waldorf with a game-high 22 point and 10 rebounds.

The game featured eight ties and seven lead changes.