COLLEGE BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT RESULTS FROM FEBRUARY 28TH FOR THE NAIA, USCAA, ACCA AND OTHERS

* NAIA *

GULF COAST ATHLETIC CONFERENCE – In the upset of the night the DILLARD BLEU (sic) DEVILS,  the 8 seeds of this conference tournament, stunned the top seeded  XAVIER (LA) GOLD RUSH, a perennial power in NAIA college hoops. 59-56 was the final score in this defense- heavy and shock- filled opus.   ###   The 5th seeded SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY AT NEW ORLEANS KNIGHTS toppled the 4 seeds, the TALLADEGA COLLEGE TORNADOES, in a 63-61 Instant Classic.   ###   In Overtime  the (3) EDWARD WATERS TIGERS brought down the (6) TOUGALOO BULLDOGS by a score of 68-61.   ###   … And the 2nd seeded PHILANDER SMITH PANTHERS dispatched the 7th seeded FISK BULLDOGS  91-81.

SOONER ATHLETIC CONFERENCE – The 4th seeded UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND ARTS OF OKLAHOMA DROVERS played the SAC game of the night against the 5 seeds, the LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY CHAPARRALS, and won out by a score of 66-63.   ###   In a schocking game the 2nd seeded OKLAHOMA BAPTIST BISON had their post- season meltdown early this year, falling to the 7th seeded OKLAHOMA CITY UNIVERSITY STARS  64-60.   ### Another 1st round upset saw the 6th seeded ROGERS STATE HILLCATS topple the (3) MIDAMERICA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY EVANGELS by a score of 87-83.   ### In the top spot the JOHN BROWN GOLDEN EAGLES eschewed all such drama and sent the 9th seeded ST GREGORY’S CAVALIERS home with a 71-56 loss.

AMERICAN MIDWEST CONFERENCE – In the 2 spot the PARK UNIVERSITY PIRATES put up a Century Club- worthy 105 points to the 73 scored by the 7th seeded HARRIS- STOWE HORNETS.   ###   The (1) COLUMBIA (MO) COUGARS had a more low-key 67-52 win over the (9) HANNIBAL- LAGRANGE TROJANS.   ###   The 5th seeded WILLIAM WOODS OWLS fell to the 4th seeded WILLIAMS BAPTIST EAGLES in a 70-68 game for the ages.   ###   … And the (6) LYON COLLEGE SCOTS lost a 79-77 Instant Classic to the (3) MISSOURI BAPTIST SPARTANS.

GOLDEN STATE ATHLETIC CONFERENCE – The ARIZONA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY FIRESTORM came in as the 3 seed and as expected defeated the 6th seeded MASTER’S MUSTANGS by a score of 84-72.   ###   The 2nd seeded HOPE INTERNATIONAL ROYALS had a 58-56 squeaker against the (7) BIOLA EAGLES.   ###   The WESTMONT WARRIORS, in the top spot, sent another EAGLES team home, beating 8th seeded SAN DIEGO CHRISTIAN handily  83-59.   ###   … And the (4) CONCORDIA (CA) EAGLES defeated the (5) VANGUARD LIONS  97-91.

HEART OF AMERICA ATHLETIC CONFERENCE – The top- seeded EVANGEL UNIVERSITY CRUSADERS had their hands full with the 8th seeded PERU STATE BOBCATS but emerged with a 73-68 victory.   ###   Meanwhile the (3) MIDAMERICA NAZARENE UNIVERSITY PIONEERS eked out a 69-68 win over the (6) BAKER WILDCATS.   ###   In the 2 spot the CULVER STOCKTON WILDCATS bounced the 7th seeded AVILA EAGLES  75-60.   ###   … And in a 4 over 5 victory the CENTRAL METHODIST EAGLES beat the BENEDICTINE RAVENS  81-69.

SOUTHERN STATES ATHLETIC CONFERENCE – The (1East) LEE UNIVERSITY FLAMES took care of business against the (4West) LOYOLA (LA) WOLFPACK, burning them 81-63.   ###   The (1West) WILLIAM CAREY CRUSADERS meanwhile took out the (5West) Mobile Rams  75-63.   ###   In a 59-43 defensive epic the (2East) EMMANUEL LIONS won out over the (3West) UAM WARHAWKS.   ###   … And the (2West) FAULKNER EAGLES whacked the (3East) SOUTHERN WESLEYAN WARRIORS  79-64.

TRANSOUTH CONFERENCE – In a massive upset the 6th seeded BLUE MOUNTAIN COLLEGE TOPPERS managed an 81-78 triumph over the 3rd seeded BETHEL (TN) WILDCATS in an Instant Classic.   ###   … And in a 5 over 4 upset the FREED- HARDEMAN LIONS toppled the MID-CONTINENT COUGARS by a score of 88-77.

* USCAA *

In the Semifinals of the USCAA National Championship Tournament the 3 seeds, the DAEMEN COLLEGE WILDCATS, eliminated the 2nd seeded AVE MARIA UNIVERSITY GYRENES by a Century Club score of 100-72.

… And the upstart 5 seeds, the SOUTHERN VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY KNIGHTS, were sent home by the top seeded ROCHESTER COLLEGE WARRIORS in a physical 59-47 clash. RC plays DC on Saturday for the title!

* USCAA DIVISION TWO *   

The 9th seeded WARREN WILSON COLLEGE OWLS continue to be one of  THE stories of this National Championship Tournament. Last night in the 2nd round they kept their upset mojo going by taking out the top seeded NEW HAMPSHIRE TECH LYNX! This 79-74 hardwood masterpiece was only the Lynx’s THIRD loss for the entire season but it came at the worst possible time!

And the 10th seeded FAYETTE ROARING LIONS remain just ahead of the Owls in terms of major stories from this tourney! They too notched their 2nd upset of the tournament, eliminating the 2nd seeded defending champion ANDREWS CARDINALS by a score of 67-61! Both USCAA divisions will have new champs this year.

Meanwhile, coming in at the number 3 spot, the BERKELEY COLLEGE (NY) KNIGHTS won a less dramatic affair, dispensing as expected with the 6th seeded YORK LIONS by a final score of 92-72.

… And completing Round Two, the 5th seeded CENTRAL PENN COLLEGE SILVER KNIGHTS took the 4th seeded BEAVER (PA) LIONS into overtime before losing to them in a 92-89 thriller. The state of Pennsylvania continues to be well- represented by their teams in this tourney!

* ACCA *

In the 2nd round of the ACCA National Championship Tournament the OZARK CHRISTIAN COLLEGE AMBASSADORS played in the tightest game but emerged with a 54-53 defense- heavy victory over the CHAMPION BAPTIST COLLEGE TIGERS.

On the opposite end of the spectrum the RHEMA BIBLE COLLEGE EAGLES and the MULTNOMAH LIONS went absolutely insane offensively. In the end the Eagles outscored the Lions in this Century Club game  131-115. This is the highest score of ANY tournament so far this year.

The DALLAS CHRISTIAN COLLEGE CRUSADERS notched a 2nd round upset win over the ARLINGTON BAPTIST COLLEGE PATRIOTS. The final score in this epic clash was 91-83.

And closing out Round Two play in the Association of Christian College Athletics, the defending champions, the HILLSDALE BAPTIST SAINTS, bounced the BARCLAY BEARS by a final score of 81-71.

* NJCAA REGIONAL TOURNAMENTS *      

REGION 19 – The top seeded BROOKDALE COLLEGE JERSEY BLUES eliminated the 4 seeds, the CAMDEN COUGARS, in a 71-56 affair. The Jersey Blues face the 2nd seeded NORTHAMPTON SPARTANS for the regional title on Saturday.