OKLAHOMA CITY ? Kansas University’s men’s bowling team placed third Sunday at the Intercollegiate Bowling Championships national qualifier to advance to Buffalo, N.Y., next month.

KU’s Jesse James, Mike Keeler, Alan Emmons, Jason Elliott, Ryan Ludwig and Marc D’Errico compiled for a 12,409-pin total. Nebraska (12,708) and Wichita State (12,464) placed 1-2. Fourth-place Western Illinois (12,331) also qualified for the 16-team national tournament on April 17-21.

“It was a very difficult sectional,” said KU coach Mike Fine, whose squad advanced to nationals for the second consecutive year and third time in four years. “We bowled very, very well on Saturday and well enough on Sunday to advance.”

Central Missouri State (12,272), Indiana (12,010), Minnesota State (11,821), Florida State (11,802), Southwest Missouri State (11,425), Oklahoma (11,191), Houston (11,079), South Texas State (11,075) and Winona State (8,131) completed the sectional.

KU’s women’s bowlers failed to advance. The Jayhawks placed fifth with 10,624 pins. Nebraska (12,030), Wichita State (11,859), Florida State (11,341) and McKendree College (11,135) qualified for nationals.

Kelly Zapf, Carly Ingham, Kristina Boehm, Nicole Mosqueda, Amanda Kuxhouson bowled for the KU women.