The Cinderella shoe fits nicely, and for now the Sioux Falls men's basketball team isn't planning on taking it off.

Entering as the tournament's surprise team, the USF Cougars knocked off third-seeded Cedarville University (Ohio), 66-63, Wednesday evening in round one of the 2008-09 NAIA Men's Division II National Basketball Tournament in Point Lookout, Missouri College of the Ozarks).

With senior forward Gerad Van Leur (Emery, S.D.) plagued by foul trouble for most of the evening, the Cougars turned to another senior to provide a spark, and Adam Herther did not disappoint.

Herther scored a career-high 23 points to lead Sioux Falls, including making four free throws and coming up with a crucial steal in the final 12 seconds of the game to preserve the victory.

USF, the hottest of the 32-field teams, extended its winning streak to six games, and snapped a two-game losing skid in the first round. Sioux Falls (20-15) reaches the 20-win plateau for the eighth time in nine seasons.

The Cougars will play the winner of Wednesday night's tilt between Ozarks (Mo.) and No. 14 Aquinas (Mich.).