*** NCCAA DIV TWO ***
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The title game was played yesterday in Division Two of the NCCAA (National Christian College Athletic Association). The top seeded defending national champions – the OHIO CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY TRAILBLAZERS took on the 2nd seeded ARLINGTON BAPTIST COLLEGE PATRIOTS for the crown. When all the dust had settled in this clash the Trailblazers had made it two national championships in a row, defeating the Patriots by a final score of 91-69. ### CONGRATULATIONS TO THE TRAILBLAZERS!
*** NJCAA DIV THREE ***
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – Yesterday also saw the title clash in Division Three of the NJCAA (National Junior College Athletic Association). Since they eliminated the reigning champion Jersey Blues in the semifinals it might be appropriate in a way that the ROCK VALLEY COLLEGE GOLDEN EAGLES went on to become the new NJCAA Division Three Champions. The Golden Eagles won an incredibly entertaining 79-69 battle with the CALDWELL TECH COBRAS. ### CONGRATULATIONS TO THE GOLDEN EAGLES!
*** NAIA ***
FINAL FOUR: FIRST BERTH FILLED – The (unseeded) SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY FIRE kept their upset magic going. Fresh off of upsetting Huntington in the First Round and then the top seeded defending champs from Cardinal Stritch University the Fire faced the 9th seeded DAVENPORT UNIVERSITY PANTHERS. By the Half Southeastern had the Panthers reeling from a 30-19 deficit but after the break Davenport came roaring back. The Fire withstood the comeback attempt however and moved on to the Final Four with a 67-64 win.
FINAL FOUR: SECOND BERTH FILLED – The 5th seeded INDIANA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY WILDCATS never trailed in their game against the (unseeded) FRIENDS UNIVERSITY FALCONS. The Wildcats led 27-12 halfway through the 1st Half but let that lead dwindle to just 34-32 before rebounding for a 48-4o advantage at the break. The Falcons threatened in the 2nd Half by pulling within four points once but IWU then sprinted the rest of the way for a 95-79 victory and their first ever trip to the Final Four.
FINAL FOUR: THIRD BERTH FILLED – A 6-0 run by the 10th seeded MIDLAND UNIVERSITY WARRIORS started their game with the (unseeded) BETHEL (IN) COLLEGE PILOTS (riverboat pilots). 6-0 became 8-7 and that became 21-9 which turned into a 41-32 Midland advantage at Halftime. The Pilots kept moving closer slowly but surely and with 13:48 left in the game took their first lead: 49-48. That became a 59-53 advantage at the 10 minute mark but with 2:49 remaining the Warriors regained the lead 67-66. From there Midland gradually got a little more separation and finally won this Instant Classic by a final score of 76-70.
FINAL FOUR: LAST BERTH FILLED – In a clash between two unseeded teams the ROBERT MORRIS (IL) UNIVERSITY EAGLES accomplished the seemingly impossible by containing the explosive offense of the WILLIAM PENN UNIVERSITY STATESMEN, who frequently put up Century Club-level numbers. The Statesmen led by 9 points at one point in the 1st Half but the Eagles tied things up at 35-35 before a 3-point shot from William Penn made it 38-35 at the break. Poor free-throw shooting ultimately doomed the Statesmen, who shot an embarrassing 44% from the line. The Eagles completed the Final Four by sneaking past WPU 79-78.
*** CCCAA FINAL FOUR ***
SEMIFINALS: GAME ONE – The SoCal Division’s top seeded SAN BERNARDINO VALLEY COLLEGE WOLVERINES took on the NorCal Division’s 2nd seeded CHABOT COLLEGE GLADIATORS for the right to advance to the Championship Game in the CCCAA. By Halftime this battle royal stood at 35-34, Wolverines but in the 2nd Half San Bernardino really made its move led by T.A. Dixon and Keith Smith. A 59-44 lead with 9:20 left to play turned into a 71-57 advantage before the Gladiators started to threaten by putting together an 11-0 run. That proved to be Chabot College’s last gasp, however and the Wolverines went on to win 78-68 to make their 2nd ever appearance in the title game.
SEMIFINALS: GAME TWO – This semifinal matchup pitted the NorCal Division’s top seeded SANTA ROSA COLLEGE BEAR CUBS against the SoCal Division’s 2nd seeded CHAFFEY COLLEGE PANTHERS to fill the second slot in Sunday’s battle for the CCCAA crown. The Panthers had the hot hand at the outset and got off to an 11-3 lead before defense became the order of the day for both teams. By Halftime this low-scoring affair stood at 26-16, Bear Cubs but Chaffey College had a lot of fight left in them and tied things up 35-35 with 9:41 remaining in the game. From there a game of scoring and counter-scoring led to another tie – 47-47 with 39 seconds left on the clock. The Bear Cubs made it 49-47 and the Panthers’ missed desperation shot as time expired made that the final score.
*** NCCAA DIV TWO ***
CONSOLATION BRACKET – The 3rd seeded LANCASTER BIBLE COLLEGE CHARGERS played the 5th seeded GRACE BIBLE COLLEGE TIGERS in the 3rd Place game. The Chargers hammered the Tigers to the tune of 94-72. ### And in the 5th Place Game yesterday the 7th seeded NORTH CENTRAL UNIVERSITY RAMS handed the 4th seeded WEST COAST BAPTIST COLLEGE EAGLES an 86-65 smackdown upset.
*** NCCAA DIV ONE ***
FINAL REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The region’s top seeded SOUTHERN NAZARENE UNIVERSITY CRIMSON STORM battled the 4th seeded DALLAS BAPTIST UNIVERSITY PATRIOTS for the final regional title. This defensive epic was highly watchable from start to finish and when all was said and done the Crimson Storm had prevailed by a score of 56-53. ### The Crimson Storm move on to the NCCAA National Tournament.
*** NJCAA DIV THREE ***
CONSOLATION BRACKET – The BROOKDALE COLLEGE JERSEY BLUES won the 3rd Place Game by a final tally of 82-74 over the EASTFIELD COLLEGE HARVESTERS. ### Meanwhile in the 5th Place Game the NASSAU COUNTY COLLEGE LIONS dusted the ANOKA RAMSEY COLLEGE GOLDEN RAMS 85-73. ### And the 7th Place Game saw the HERKIMER COUNTY COLLEGE GENERALS put up a Century Club- level 101 points to the 94 put up by the LINCOLN COLLEGE OF NEW ENGLAND WILDCATS.
Balladeer's Blog 
Southeastern U will go even further next year!
Maybe so!