THREE COLLEGE BASKETBALL NATIONAL CHAMPS CROWNED WHILE OTHER TOURNAMENTS CONTINUE

USCAA – National Champions were crowned in BOTH divisions of the USCAA (United States Collegiate Athletic Association). In Division One the top seeded ROCHESTER COLLEGE WARRIORS trailed the 3rd seeded DAEMEN COLLEGE WILDCATS 31-28 at halftime but wound up winning the title in a 70-67 Instant Classic. This is the 5th National Championship for RC and the 1st since 2005.

USCAA DIVISION TWO – Meanwhile in D2 of the USCAA the two lowest seeds in the tournament, the number 9 WARREN WILSON COLLEGE OWLS and the 10th seeded FAYETTE ROARING LIONS, made this the tournament of underdogs. The two toppled every other team in their way to face off in the championship game. Like RC the Owls trailed at the break, in their case by a score of 36-33, but came back to win the crown by a final score of 76-68. Congratulations to Warren Wilson College on their 1st ever National Championship!

ACCA – The DALLAS CHRISTIAN COLLEGE CRUSADERS kept the underdog theme going, upsetting the RHEMA BIBLE COLLEGE EAGLES in an 84-77 Overtime clash that will be talked about for YEARS by fans of the ACCA (Association of Christian College Athletics. The Crusaders fought their way through the Association Free Lutheran Bible School Conquerors, the Arlington Baptist College Patriots and the Hillsdale Baptist College Saints on their way to the title game.

* NAIA CONFERENCE TOURNAMENTS *

AMERICAN MIDWEST CONFERENCE – The 2nd seeded PARK UNIVERSITY PIRATES advanced to the conference championship game Tuesday by bouncing the 3rd seeded MISSOURI BAPTIST SPARTANS  76-65.   ###   … And the (1) COLUMBIA (MO) COUGARS dismembered the (4) WILLIAMS BAPTIST EAGLES in a 97-56 laugher.

FRONTIER CONFERENCE – The 5 seeds, the ROCKY MOUNTAIN COLLEGE BATTLIN’ BEARS, stunned the top seeded LEWIS CLARK STATE WARRIORS in a 79-72 upset game for the ages.   ###   … And the 3rd seeded MSUN LIGHTS fell 68-59 to the team in the 2 spot, the MONTANA WESTERN BULLDOGS.

GOLDEN STATE ATHLETIC CONFERENCE – In a 3 seed over 2 seed upset the ARIZONA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY FIRESTORM eliminated the HOPE INTERNATIONAL ROYALS  93-78.   ###   … And the top seeded WESTMONT WARRIORS fell to the upstart 4 seeds, the CONCORDIA (CA) EAGLES, in an 80-77 Instant Classic.

GULF COAST ATHLETIC CONFERENCE – The 2nd seeded PHILANDER SMITH COLLEGE PANTHERS ended the Cinderella run of the 8th seeded DILLARD BLEU (sic) DEVILS. Dillard made it all the way to the title game, but the Panthers proved too much for them as they dispatched the Bleu Devils  65-45 for the conference crown.

HEART OF AMERICA ATHLETIC CONFERENCE – In the 3 spot the MIDAMERICA NAZARENE UNIVERSITY PIONEERS upset the 2nd seeded CULVER STOCKTON WILDCATS  86-74.   ###   … And the (1) EVANGEL UNIVERSITY CRUSADERS smacked around the (4) CENTRAL METHODIST EAGLES by a score of 77-55.

MID-SOUTH CONFERENCE – This league’s tournament continues to be all chalk with no upsets. In the semifinals the top seeded LINDSEY WILSON COLLEGE BLUE RAIDERS eliminated the 4th seeded CAMPBELLSVILLE TIGERS  72-61.   ###   … And the 2 seeds, the PIKEVILLE UNIVERSITY BEARS, defeated the 3rd seeded GEORGETOWN (KY) TIGERS  91-76.

RED RIVER ATHLETIC CONFERENCE – The (2) LSU- SHREVEPORT PILOTS (riverboat pilots) were upset in a 69-63 Instant Classic against the (3) ST THOMAS (TX) CELTS.   ###   And in the top spot the SOUTHWEST ASSEMBLIES OF GOD UNIVERSITY LIONS dispatched the 5th seeded TEXAS WESLEYAN RAMS by a score of 98-83.

SOONER ATHLETIC CONFERENCE – Another conference tournament champion was crowned as the SEVENTH SEEDED Cinderella team, the OKLAHOMA CITY UNIVERSITY STARS, won a 77-72 hardcourt masterpiece against the top seeded JOHN BROWN UNIVERSITY GOLDEN EAGLES. Along the way the Stars shocked Rogers State and Oklahoma Baptist University as well.

SOUTHERN STATES ATHLETIC CONFERENCE – The West Division’s 2nd seeds, the FAULKNER EAGLES, won the SSAC title by upsetting the West Division’s 1 seeds, the WILLIAM CAREY CRUSADERS. The final score was 67-58 in this hard- fought, defense- heavy matchup. Faulkner joins Oklahoma City U and Philander Smith in the NAIA’s Big Dance.

TRANSOUTH CONFERENCE – The upstart 5 seeds, the FREED HARDEMAN LIONS, kept their upset mojo going as they brought down the top seeded MARTIN METHODIST REDHAWKS  60-53.   ###   And the (2) LIFE UNIVERSITY RUNNING EAGLES advanced to the conference title game with a 91-71 victory over the (6) BLUE MOUNTAIN COLLEGE TOPPERS.

ASSOCIATION OF INDEPENDENT INSTITUTIONS – Closing out conference tournament action yesterday in the NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics), the 2nd seeded WEST VIRGINIA TECH GOLDEN BEARS won an epic 74-70 clash with the (3) ROBERT MORRIS (IL) EAGLES.   ###   And the (4) VOORHEES TIGERS machete- slashed the top seeded CAL STATE SAN MARCOS COUGARS  80-66.

* NJCAA TOURNAMENTS *

REGION 1 – Yesterday saw the championship game for this region and pitted the top seeded CENTRAL ARIZONA COLLEGE VAQUEROS against the 3rd seeded ARIZONA WESTERN COLLEGE MATADORS. The Vaqueros prevailed in a 78-67 affair to win the region and advance to the NJCAA’s Big Dance.

REGION 6 – The HUTCHINSON BLUE DRAGONS won a 90-82 hardcourt epic against the NW KANSAS TECH MAVERICKS.   ###   The COFFEYVILLE RED RAVENS bounced the GARDEN CITY COLLEGE BRONCBUSTERS by a score of 92-70.   ###   The DODGE CITY CONQUISTADORS meanwhile fell to the INDEPENDENCE PIRATES  83-68.   ###   The BUTLER (KS) GRIZZLIES mauled the NEOSHO PANTHERS  90-67.   ###   It was the SEWARD SAINTS 88 and the COLBY TROJANS 70.   ###   The ALLEN COLLEGE RED DEVILS fell to the BARTON COUGARS in a 93-61 blowout.   ###   And the CLOUD THUNDERBIRDS edged the LABETTE CARDINALS in a 54-50 defensive struggle.

REGION 9 – The OTERO RATTLERS slapped down the MILES COLLEGE PIONEERS  72-40.   ###   Meanwhile the NORTHEASTERN PLAINSMEN took out the SHERIDAN COLLEGE GENERALS by a score of 97-81.   ###   The CASPER COLLEGE THUNDERBIRDS declawed the WESTERN NEBRASKA COUGARS  81-69.   ###   And the DAWSON BUCCANEERS keelhauled the NORTH PLATTE KNIGHTS to the tune of 71-42.

REGION 11 – In the region’s championship game the top seeded IOWA WESTERN REIVERS triumphed over the 2 seeds for the region, the SOUTHEASTERN (IA) BLACKHAWKS. The final score in this title bout was Reivers 68  Blackhawks 47.

REGION 15 – The top seeds, the ASA COLLEGE AVENGERS, won a 73-69 Instant Classic over the 4th seeded WESTCHESTER VIKINGS.   ###   And the (2) MONROE COLLEGE MUSTANGS  bounced the (3) HARCUM BEARS  68-59. On to the regional title game!

REGION 18 – In the regional championship game the (1) SALT LAKE COLLEGE BRUINS came out on top in an 86-75 clash with the (3) SNOW COLLEGE BADGERS. The Bruins advance to the NJCAA Big Dance for their next step!

REGION 216 – The PENN VALLEY SCOUTS came in as the 1 seeds and lived up to expectations. The Scouts won the championship game 86-64 over the 3rd seeded ST LOUIS COLLEGE ARCHERS.

REGION 319 – This region’s title game also took place yesterday and pitted the top seeded BROOKDALE COLLEGE JERSEY BLUES against the 2 seeds, the NORTHAMPTON SPARTANS. The Jersey Blues (love that name) emerged with an easy 89-59 victory.

* CCCAA TOURNAMENTS *

SOCAL REGION – The (3) MT SAN ANTONIO COLLEGE MOUNTIES defeated the (14) ANTELOPE VALLEY MARAUDERS  80-68.   ###   In a 10 over 7 upset the SAN BERNARDINO WOLVERINES took down the RIVERSIDE TIGERS  66-56.   ###   The (6) COLLEGE OF THE CANYONS COUGARS edged the ALLAN HANCOCK BULLDOGS in a 71-68 Instant Classic.   ###   And in THE upset of the CCCAA tourney so far the FIFTEENTH seeded MT SAN JACINTO EAGLES shocked the nation with their 83-78 victory over the 2nd seeded VENTURA PIRATES.

Also in the SoCal Region the 12th seeded PALOMAR COLLEGE COMETS overthrew the 5th seeded PIERCE COLLEGE BRAHMA BULLS by a score of 72-55.   ###   Meanwhile the (1) SADDLEBACK GAUCHOS dusted the (17) CITRUS PIRATES  78-64.   ###   The (4) CHAFFEY PANTHERS dispatched the (13) IRVINE VALLEY LASERS  73-59.   ###   And in a 9 over 8 upset the EAST LOS ANGELES HUSKIES eliminated the MIRA COSTA SPARTANS  76-62.

NORCAL REGION – The 7th seeded OHLONE COLLEGE RENEGADES bounced the 10th seeded YUBA 49ers in a 62-54 outing.   ###   In an 11 over 6 upset the WEST VALLEY VIKINGS sent home the SIERRA WOLVERINES by a shocking score of 64-40.   ###   And the (15) MERRITT COLLEGE THUNDERBIRDS fell to the 2nd seeded FRESNO CITY RAMS  100-83.

Also in the NorCal Region the CHABOT COLLEGE GLADIATORS were the unlucky 13 seeds and fell to the 4th seeded SANTA ROSA BEAR CUBS  86-76.   ###   The (6) CABRILLO SEAHAWKS eliminated the (11) CONTRA COSTA COMETS  65-57.   ###   In a 9 over 8 upset the LASSEN COUGARS eked out a nailbiting 68-65 win over the COLLEGE OF THE SEQUOIAS GIANTS.   ###   And with very little drama the top seeded SAN FRANCISCO RAMS eviscerated the SAN JOSE CITY COLLEGE JAGUARS  92-52.