FEBRUARY FRENZY: COLLEGE BASKETBALL CONFERENCE TOURNAMENTS ARE UNDERWAY

The NAIA’s Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference as always leads the way for the nation and tipped off its 2014 college basketball tournament last night. In addition the post-season is underway in the NJCAA as well.

The CALUMET COLLEGE CRIMSON WAVE traveled to take on the PURDUE UNIVERSITY- CALUMET PEREGRINES in a clash of cool-named teams. In the first five and a half minutes of the game the Crimson Wave took control and held the whip hand the rest of the way. Calumet College won this First Round matchup by a final score of 72-50, with the Crimson Wave’s Robert Jackson contributing 22 points to lead all scorers. Franqlin Gatson was right behind his teammate with 21 points and Noah Allen’s 11 points made him the only Peregrine to reach double digits. Calumet College shot 52% from the field and, amazingly, FIFTY-NINE PERCENT from 3-point range.

In the other First Round game in the CCAC last night the ROOSEVELT UNIVERSITY LAKERS battled the INDIANA UNIVERSITY- SOUTH BEND TITANS in an undeniable hardcourt epic. These two familiar foes played a very physical game that saw the score knotted up 10 times through most of regulation, and then in the final fraction of a second the 11th tie sent them into Overtime courtesy of a Free Throw from the Titans’ Chris Beam. The Lakers came out reenergized for the extra session and churned out a 7-1 run that put them in control. The final score was 73-68 with Joe Harks from Roosevelt University leading all scorers with 21 points and 15 more tossed in by Tyree York. For IU- South Bend the Beam Brothers – Chris and Brandon – scored 18 points each to lead their team.

*** NJCAA ***

The Region 11 play-in game was held last night as the MARSHALLTOWN COLLEGE TIGERS welcomed the NORTHEAST (IA) COLLEGE HAWKS for the right to advance to Wednesday’s round. The Tigers led the Hawks 41-35 at Halftime and extended that to a 93-81 victory by the time all was said and done. Marshalltown’s Mike Rodriguez and Troidell Carter led the scoring for the Tigers with 28 and 23 points respectively. In defeat Khapri Alston led the Hawks with his 22 points.

BALLADEER’S BLOG’S PLAYOFF COVERAGE WILL CONTINUE ALL THROUGH THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES IN ALL THE DIVISIONS OF COLLEGE SPORTS COVERED HERE.