COLLEGE BASKETBALL AND HOCKEY: NJCAA AND ACHA TOURNAMENT RESULTS FROM MARCH 20TH

* NJCAA1 DAY 3 *

VAQUEROS RIDE! – Both NCAA Divisions 2 and 3 had off days yesterday for their respective tournaments. NJCAA Divisions One and Two saw action, however. In Division One the 6th seeded CENTRAL ARIZONA COLLEGE VAQUEROS battled the 11th seeded SALT LAKE COLLEGE BRUINS for the right to advance to the Elite Eight. The Vaqueros moved on with an action- filled 87-82 victory in an undeniable Instant Classic!

ALL DEFENSE, ALL THE TIME – The 2nd seeded SPARTANBURG METHODIST COLLEGE PIONEERS are the ONLY undefeated team in the NJCAA1 tournament. Yesterday they had all they could handle from the 15 seeds, the KILGORE COLLEGE RANGERS. In a game that took defense to new heights the Pioneers actually trailed their double-digit seed opponents at halftime by a low score of 23-19. In the 2nd half the Pioneers overtook the Rangers and sent them home with a 53-51 loss. SMC is now 33-0.    

PATRIOTS HAD BUCK FEVER – With top-seeded Iowa Western having advanced in yesterday’s play, SMC and the 3rd seeded COLLEGE OF CENTRAL FLORIDA PATRIOTS were the two highest seeds in action. Yesterday the Patriots faced the ever- tough MOTLOW COLLEGE BUCKS, who came in as the 14 seeds. At the half CCF held a slim 35-32 advantage but poured it on offensively in the 2nd half to move on to the Elite Eight with a comfortable 79-63 victory.   

SEVEN- TEN SPLIT? – No matter what level of college basketball it always seems like games between 7 seeds and 10 seeds are very tight and often result in upsets. Unfortunately yesterday’s game between the 7th seeded EAST GEORGIA STATE COLLEGE BOBCATS and the 10th seeded COFFEYVILLE RED RAVENS was anything BUT tight. By halftime the Bobcats were embarrassing the Red Ravens by an unbelievable score of 38-19 and by the time the game was all said and done East Georgia State had eliminated Coffeyville by a final tally of 79-47. That’s gonna leave a mark!   

* NJCAA2 DAY 2 *

TOTALLY TOUGH TRIBUNES – The 2nd seeded MONROE TRIBUNES squared off against the unseeded HOWARD COLLEGE (MD) DRAGONS in a sweat- soaked (ewww) defensive clash yesterday. In the end the Tribunes  emerged with a 62-56 win after trailing at halftime by a score of 29-27. The Tribunes move on to the next round.

HAPPY TIMES IN THE VALLEY – The 7 seeds, the MORAINE VALLEY COLLEGE CYCLONES, had almost more than they could handle with the GRAND RAPIDS COLLEGE RAIDERS. By the time the game reached halftime the Cyclones were clinging to a 31-30 advantage. After the break Moraine Valley College put up 42 additional points to the 38 mustered by the Raiders. The final score in this unforgettable game was Cyclones  73 Raiders  68.   

THE WARRIORS CAME OUT TO PLAY – Fans of bad movies will appreciate  that title. At any rate the 4th seeded REND LAKE COLLEGE WARRIORS battled the 5th seeded SOUTH SUBURBAN COLLEGE BULLDOGS. In a tale of two halves the Bulldogs completely dominated in the 1st half, leading 37-24 at the break. The Warriors poured it on in the 2nd half to tie the game up at 75 apiece by the end of regulation. Rend Lake College then went on to win in Overtime  85-83.   

THERE’S NO STOPPING THIS EXPRESS – The OWENS COLLEGE EXPRESS came into the tournament as the 8 seed and yesterday they advanced again. Their opponents were the unseeded upset victors of Day One, the CENTRAL COLLEGE OF COLUMBUS (NE) RAIDERS. Owens College had their way in the opening half and led the Raiders  41-27 by halftime. Central College put up a much better fight in the 2nd half, but in the end the Express moved on with a healthy 88-72 triumph.

* ACHA3 HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIP *

TWO IN A ROW FOR ADRIAN – The national championship game in Division Three of the American Collegiate Hockey Association was played yesterday. The defending champs, the ADRIAN COLLEGE BULLDOGS, battled the UM-FLINT WOLVERINES for the title. The Bulldogs made it back to back championships with a 4-1 rout of the squad from Flint. Congratulations to Adrian College.