BASKETBALL CONFERENCE TOURNAMENTS CONTINUE

* CASCADE COLLEGIATE CONFERENCE *

GAME ONE – The top seeded COLLEGE OF IDAHO COYOTES clashed with the number 8 seeds – the OREGON TECH HUSTLING OWLS. Call it overconfidence or whatever you like, but the Coyotes got off to a slow start against the Hustling Owls. They pulled it together to take a 5-point lead by the break but Oregon Tech would come out even stronger in the 2nd Half. They soon tied up the game and then the two teams traded the lead back and forth before the College of Idaho finally pulled away for a 71-64 win in this wakeup call. Demetrius Perkins recorded a Double-Double with 11 points and 12 rebounds for the Yotes.

GAME TWO – The Upset of the Night happened in the game between the 7th seeded EASTERN OREGON UNIVERSITY MOUNTAINEERS and the 2nd seeded CONCORDIA (OR) CAVALIERS. The Cavaliers took a 45-38 lead into Halftime and after the break moved out to a double-digit lead at one point. The Mountaineers refused to go away, however, and despite trailing by 15 points with 10 minutes left, came storming back. After pulling ever-closer EOU scored the final 9 points of the game for a 69-68 victory! Bryan McGriff scored the winning basket for the Mountaineers.  

GAME THREE – The 4 seeds – the SOUTHERN OREGON UNIVERSITY RAIDERS – came into the game with the 5th seeded NORTHWEST CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY BEACONS firmly lodged in their heads, having lost their last 5 in a row to them. It seemed like it might be more of the same ol’ same ol’ as the Raiders let the Beacons come back from a 31-24 Halftime deficit to tie the game at 74-74 to force Overtime. The 1st OT session ended in an 83-83 tie but in the SECOND OT Southern Oregon emerged with a 98-92 triumph! Ben Desaulnier and Jordan West had 20 points each while Eric Thompson notched a Double Double with 19 points and 11 rebounds.

GAME FOUR – This game pitted the 3rd seeded WARNER PACIFIC COLLEGE KNIGHTS against the 6th seeded CORBAN UNIVERSITY WARRIORS. This game went from a tight 1st Half to a laugher of a 2nd as the Knights dominated and intimidated the Warriors for the final 20 minutes. Warner Pacific came from behind for a 38-22 Halftime lead which ultimately became a SEVENTY-NINE to FORTY-NINE final score. Doug Thomas tossed in 19 points to lead the Knights.  

* NORTH STAR ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION *

SECOND ROUND – GAME ONE – The 4th seeded MAYVILLE STATE COMETS took the floor against the 3 seeds – the PRESENTATION COLLEGE SAINTS. The upset-minded Comets took charge early on and by Halftime held a 38-30 edge. After the break the Saints would pull within 1 for a time but Mayville State maintained its composure and went on to finalize the upset by a score of 72-66. Chuck Robinson of the Comets logged 15 points for the winners.  

SECOND ROUND – GAME TWO – This game saw the 2nd seeded DAKOTA STATE TROJANS clash with the 5 seeds – the DICKINSON STATE BLUE HAWKS. The Trojans trailed the Blue Hawks at the midpoint by a score of 36-31 but came back to win the game 85-74. Dakota State’s Bryant Allen had an astonishing FORTY of his team’s points. Up next the Trojans face the Comets for the right to play the University of Jamestown in the conference title game. 

* APPALACHIAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE *

FIRST QUARTERFINAL – The TENNESSEE WESLEYAN COLLEGE BULLDOGS came into the tournament as the 6 seeds and were doing battle with the 3rd seeded TRUETT MCCONNELL COLLEGE BEARS. The Bears held a 30-26 advantage at Halftime but the Bulldogs came out for the 2nd Half determined to pull off the upset. Tennessee Wesleyan won by a final score of 67-63 in this 6 over 3 takedown! Stephen Kite, Jr provided 16 points to lead the Bulldogs.  

SECOND QUARTERFINAL – The 4th seeded REINHARDT UNIVERSITY EAGLES took on the 5 seeds – the BRYAN COLLEGE LIONS – in this game. It was all Eagles early as RU got off to a comfortable 40-29 lead by the break. After that Reinhardt had to weather a furious comeback attempt by the Lions, which the Eagles did for an 82-73 victory. Corey Ricks led Reinhardt with 17 points and 8 rebounds.

THIRD QUARTERFINAL – The 2 seeds – the MILLIGAN COLLEGE BUFFALOES – took on one of the survivors of the Opening Round from 2 days ago – the 7th seeded BLUEFIELD COLLEGE RAMBLING RAMS. The Buffaloes converted a 34-21 Halftime lead into a 63-52 victory to advance to the Semifinals. Milligan College’s Kurt Brooks led the way for his teammates with 22 points and 7 rebounds.

FOURTH QUARTERFINAL – The top seeded UNION (KY) COLLEGE BULLDOGS faced the other survivors of the Opening Round – the 9th seeded MONTREAT COLLEGE CAVALIERS. The Bulldogs ensured there would be no upset by the Cavaliers last night, compiling a daunting 52-32 advantage by the Half and ultimately winning by a final tally of 95-61. J.D. Tucker’s 24 points led the victors.  

* NJCAA *

REGION 219 – SEMIFINALS – In the First Semifinal the ESSEX COLLEGE WOLVERINES mixed it up with the MANOR COLLEGE BLUE JAYS. The Wolverines notched a tight 85-81 victory.     ###      And in the other Semifinal the MERCER COUNTY COLLEGE VIKINGS welcomed the LACKAWANNA COLLEGE FALCONS. The Vikings moved on to the title game in a 65-59 defensive epic.  

REGION 319 – SEMIFINALS – The COLLEGE OF PHILADELPHIA COLONIALS went nose to nose with the UNION COUNTY COLLEGE OWLS. The Colonials advanced to the title game in a 77-73 Instant Classic.     ###      And in the other Semifinal Game the CAMDEN COLLEGE COUGARS battled the MIDDLESEX COLLEGE COLTS and emerged with an upset win in a 64-62 game for the ages!