COLLEGE BASKETBALL: NAIA AND NCCAA TOURNAMENT ACTION FROM MARCH 13TH

CLOSE UPSETS – The LSU- SHREVEPORT PILOTS (riverboat pilots) rose up and took out the (8) PIKEVILLE UNIVERSITY BEARS! After leading at halfime 44-35 the Pilots withstood a spirited rally by Pikeville in the 2nd half and advance to the Sweet 16 with a 91-87 victory.   ###   And the MARTIN METHODIST REDHAWKS upset the (11) WESTMONT WARRIORS. The Redhawks were up by 7 at the break then had to go blow for blow with Westmont in a fast’n’ furious 2nd half to come out on top  71-65.

TAKIN’ CARE OF BUSINESS – The number one seeds, the COLUMBIA (MO) COUGARS, sent a message to the rest of the tournament field yesterday, eviscerating the OKLAHOMA CITY UNIVERSITY STARS by a score of 68-37.   ###   And in more bad news for the Sooner Athletic Conference the UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND ARTS OF OKLAHOMA DROVERS got eliminated by the (6) SOUTHWESTERN ASSEMBLIES OF GOD UNIVERSITY LIONS in a 62-58 Instant Classic. 

WIN IT BY 18 – The (3) LEE UNIVERSITY FLAMES proved to be as tough as ever, bouncing the VOORHEES COLLEGE TIGERS by a score of 67-49 before yesterday’s Parade of Champions.   ###   And the HOPE INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY ROYALS eliminated last year’s runners-up, the (16) EMMANUEL LIONS, in another game decided by 18 points. The final score in this contest was Royals  80 Lions  62.  

NOTE IT! – The (9) EVANGEL UNIVERSITY CRUSADERS shot 52% in the 1st half and 50% in the 2nd on their way to a 64-54 triumph over the MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY- NORTHERN LIGHTS.   ###   And in the tightest game of the day the (14) MONTANA WESTERN BULLDOGS and the PHILANDER SMITH PANTHERS went into Overtime before the Bulldogs moved on to the next round with a 99-94 win.  

* NCCAA *

The NCCAA (National Christian College Athletic Association), like the NAIA above, tipped off its Division One National Championship Tournament yesterday. In a game between the top seeded FRESNO PACIFIC UNIVERSITY SUNBIRDS and their 8th seeded opponents, the ROBERTS WESLEYAN RAIDERS, both teams logged Century Club numbers. The Sunbirds advanced with a 113-101 victory in this scoring frenzy.  

The 2nd seeded CEDARVILLE UNIVERSITY YELLOW JACKETS come into this year’s tournament as the defending NCCAA champions. Yesterday they eliminated their 1st round opponents, the 7th seeded TENNESSEE TEMPLE UNIVERSITY CRUSADERS, by a score of 87-58. The Yellow Jackets play the winner of the OCU/ SAU game this afternoon at 5:15pm.    

In the other two 1st Round games in the NCCAA one was a 5 over 4 upset as the SHORTER UNIVERSITY HAWKS defeated the MIDAMERICA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY EVANGELS  101-89.   ###   And the 3rd seeded OKLAHOMA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY EAGLES dismissed the (6) SPRING ARBOR COUGARS in an 83-59 affair.