MARCH 5TH’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT RESULTS

HEART OF AMERICA ATHLETIC CONFERENCE – The championship game of this conference pitted the top seeded EVANGEL UNIVERSITY CRUSADERS against the 3 seeds, the MIDAMERICA NAZARENE UNIVERSITY PIONEERS. The resulting clash was a hardcourt epic and in the end the Crusaders walked away with the conference crown after an 88-81 victory. Now it’s on to the NAIA Division One National Championship Tournament.

FRONTIER CONFERENCE – The 5th seeded ROCKY MOUNTAIN COLLEGE BATTLIN’ BEARS stunned the nation by taking the conference title. In the championship game RMC took on the 2nd seeded MONTANA WESTERN BULLDOGS and manhandled them for a 68-52 win. On their way to the title game the Battlin’ Bears also defeated Westminster and Lewis- Clark State. Congratulations to Rocky Mountain College!

TRANSOUTH CONFERENCE – The LIFE UNIVERSITY RUNNING EAGLES came into the Transouth Conference as the 2 seeds. Their opponents in the title game were the upstart 5 seeds, the FREED HARDEMAN LIONS. The Running Eagles emerged with the win in this 70-68 Instant Classic. Along the way Life University (not affiliated with the School of Hard Knocks) eliminated Blue Mountain College after having a bye in the quarterfinals.

RED RIVER ATHLETICS CONFERENCE – The RRAC tourney was the site of an upset. The 3rd seeded ST THOMAS (TX) CELTS toppled the top seeded SOUTHWESTERN ASSEMBLIES OF GOD UNIVERSITY LIONS in authoritative fashion. The final score was 67-51 as the Celts move on to the NAIA’s Big Dance.

* NCCAA2 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP *

The National Christian College Athletic Association Division 2 national championship tournament got underway yesterday. The 5th seeded FLORIDA CHRISTIAN COLLEGE SUNS edged the 12th seeded CENTRAL BIBLE COLLEGE SPARTANS in a 74-70 game for the ages.

In an 11 seed over a 6 seed upset the ever-tough OZARK CHRISTIAN COLLEGE AMBASSADORS laid low the VALLEY FORGE COLLEGE PATRIOTS. The final score in this game that embodied everything great about college athletics was Ambassadors  78 Patriots  73. OCC and FCC play next on Thursday.

In the 8 vs 9 matchup both teams put up Century Club- worthy points. The 8th seeded MANHATTAN CHRISTIAN COLLEGE CRUSADERS defeated the 9th seeded MULTNOMAH LIONS in a 120-111 scoring frenzy. This game redefined the expression “large basket”.

Oddly enough, though the 7 vs 10 clashes are usually very tight in all levels of college hoops yesterday’s 7-10 game in the NCCAA tournament was an exception. The (7) ARLINGTON BAPTIST COLLEGE PATRIOTS bounced the (10) GRACE UNIVERSITY YELLOW JACKETS by a score of 81-64.

* NJCAA TOURNAMENTS *  

REGION 6 – The COFFEYVILLE COLLEGE RED RAVENS still have only ONE loss for the entire 2012-2013 season following yesterday’s 81-70 defeat of the BUTLER (KS) GRIZZLIES.   ###   The HUTCHINSON BLUE DRAGONS routed the CLOUD COLLEGE THUNDERBIRDS by a score of 82-64.   ###   The INDEPENDENCE PIRATES fell to the SEWARD SAINTS  84-66.   ###   And the BARTON COUGARS eliminated the COWLEY COLLEGE TIGERS to the tune of 75-68.

REGION 7 – The (7) WALTERS STATE SENATORS dispatched the 10th seeded COLUMBIA STATE CHARGERS in a 63-55 defensive masterpiece.   ###   … And at the opposite end of the spectrum the 8 seeds, the CHATTANOOGA STATE TIGERS, defeated the 9th seeded DYERSBURG EAGLES  98-87.

REGION 9 – The OTERO COLLEGE RATTLERS stung the NORTHWEST COLLEGE TRAPPERS 75-63 to advance to the Regional Championship game tonight.   ###   … And joining the Rattlers will be the NORTH PLATTE KNIGHTS, who made the NORTHEASTERN COLLEGE PLAINSMEN look plain indeed by crushing them   84-59.

REGION 14 – The (6) TYLER APACHES whacked the (11) COASTAL BEND COLLEGE COUGARS by a score of 66-53   ###   The (10) PARIS (TX) DRAGONS fell to the (7) LAMAR- PORT ARTHUR SEAHAWKS  90-68   ###   The (5) LEE COLLEGE RUNNIN’ REBELS sent home the (12) BLINN BUCCANEERS  86-73   ###   And the (9) ANGELINA COLLEGE ROADRUNNERS were defeated 84-71 by the (8) TRINITY VALLEY CARDINALS.

REGION 212 – The 5th seeded JACKSON COLLEGE JETS upset  the 4th seeded KALAMAZOO VALLEY COUGARS  71-66   ###   The (3) LANSING COLLEGE STARS took out the (6) KELLOGG BRUINS by a score of 100-71   ###   Meanwhile the (7) LAKE MICHIGAN COLLEGE RED HAWKS were plucked by the 2nd seeded GRAND RAPIDS RAIDERS  66-46.