COLLEGE BASKETBALL CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT ACTION CONTINUES: FEBRUARY 23RD

 February Frenzy continues here at Balladeer’s Blog as additional conference tournaments tip off tonight. Among the leagues starting post-season play this evening will be the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference featuring the Southwestern College Moundbuilders, the Tabor Blue Jays, the Bethany Swedes and the 2nd seeded University of Saint Mary Spires (logo at right). In the NCCAA (National Christian College Athletic Association) the 1st round of the Mideast Region Tournament tips off, with teams like the Johnson University Preachers and the Crown College Royal Crusaders seeing action. 

To recap last night’s action, the biggest upsets involved a couple of 7 seeds over 2 seeds as the Lourdes Gray Wolves toppled the defending champs of NAIA-2 basketball, the Cornerstone University Golden Eagles and the William Penn University Statesmen fell to the Grand View Vikings. This final insult to Cornerstone caps a very disappointing year defending their crown as they fell out of the rankings a few weeks ago and now suffering such an upset in the opening round of their conference tournament. Short of a miracle or a bribe to the selection committee their season is over. For that score and others read on:

CALIFORNIA PACIFIC CONFERENCE –  (5) Simpson Red Hawks UPSET the (4) Menlo Oaks  82-80  ***  (3) William Jessup Warriors over the (6) Pacific Union Pioneers  73-68

CASCADE COLLEGIATE CONFERENCE – (1) Oregon Tech Hustlin’ Owls over the (8) College of Idaho Coyotes  79-53  ***  (2) Northwest (WA) Eagles over the (7) Concordia (OR) Cavaliers  92-83  ***  (3) Warner Pacific Knights over the (6) Southern Oregon Raiders  82-78 (OT)  *** (4) Eastern Oregon Mountaineers over the (5) Corban Warriors  75-62 

GREAT PLAINS ATHLETIC CONFERENCE – (1) Dordt College Defenders over the (8) Concordia (NE) Bulldogs 78-57  ***  (2) Northwestern (IA) Red Raiders over the (7) Mt Marty Lancers  85-56  ***  (3) Briar Cliff Chargers over the (6) Nebraska Wesleyan University Prairie Wolves  51-41  ***  (4) Midland Warriors over the (5) Morningside Mustangs  58-57

MID-CENTRAL COLLEGIATE CONFERENCE – (1) Indiana Wesleyan Wildcats over the (8) Goshen Maple Leafs  74-66  ***  (2) Grace College Lancers over the (7) Taylor Trojans  76-53  ***  (3) Marian University Knights over the (6) Spring Arbor Cougars  72-52  ***  (4) St Francis (IN) Cougars over the (5) Huntington Foresters  67-66

MIDWEST COLLEGIATE CONFERENCE – (1) St Ambrose Fighting Bees (love that name) over the (8) Iowa Wesleyan Tigers  86-79  ***  (7) Grand View Vikings UPSET the (2) William Penn Statesmen  93-88 (Co-Upset of the Night)  ***  (6) Mt Mercy Mustangs UPSET the (3) Ashford Saints  77-74  ***  (5) Waldorf Warriors UPSET the Clarke Crusaders  76-70  *** 

W.H.A.C. – (7) Lourdes Gray Wolves UPSET the (2) Cornerstone Golden Eagles (defending NAIA-2 champs) 67-58 (UPSET OF THE NIGHT) ***  (6) Concordia (MI) Cardinals UPSET the (3) Madonna University Crusaders  79-65  ***  (1) Davenport Panthers over the (8) Siena Heights Saints  103-65  ***  (4) Indiana Tech Warriors over the (5) Aquinas Saints  75-64

CCCAA SoCal Tournament – (17) Imperial Valley College Arabs UPSET the (16) Hancock Bulldogs  79-72  ***  (18) Santa Monica Corsairs UPSET the (15) El Camino Warriors  82-77  ***  (19) Riverside Tigers UPSET the (14) LA Harbor Seahawks  67-55  ***  (13) Los Angeles Valley Monarchs over the (20) College of the Canyons Cougars  75-61  

CCCAA NorCal Tournament – (18) West Hills College Coalingas (love that name) UPSET the (15) Sacramento Panthers  66-60 (OT)  ***  (17) Contra Costa Comets UPSET the Mendocino Eagles  78-72