COLLEGE HOOPS: NAIA AND NCCAA NATIONAL TOURNAMENTS UNDERWAY

* NAIA2 *

DAY ONE – GAME ONE – You want offense? The game between the (14) CONCORDIA (OR) CAVALIERS and the (BD) INDIANA UNIVERSITY EAST RED WOLVES had you covered. By Halftime the Cavaliers were on top by a blistering 66-39. After the break both teams were still rolling offensively and in the end Concordia advanced to the 2nd Round by a Century Club-level score of ONE HUNDRED SIXTEEN to NINETY! Tyler Velasquez led the Cavaliers with 29 points.

DAY ONE – GAME TWO – The (4) COLLEGE OF IDAHO COYOTES took on the (BD) DAKOTA STATE TROJANS in this game, which turned out to be the closest of Day One. The Coyotes seemed to be in control, leading 39-29 at the break but in the 2nd Half the Trojans came storming back. In the end the College of Idaho held on by their fingernails in a 65-64 win. Three Coyotes scored 11 points each – Marko Kovakevic, Joe Vaz and Josh Wilson.

DAY ONE – GAME THREE – This game produced the only upset of Day One, believe it or not. The (BD) CARDINAL STRITCH UNIVERSITY WOLVES tangled with the (13) COLLEGE OF THE OZARKS BOBCATS. By the Halftime buzzer the Wolves were ahead 43-29 and from there went on to defeat the Bobcats 78-69. Tony Smit’s 24 point led Cardinal Stritch University.

DAY ONE – GAME FOUR – In this game the (15) UNION (KY) BULLDOGS took the court against the rapidly-rising (BD) UNIVERSITY OF NORTHWESTERN OHIO RACERS. A very defense-heavy 1st Half ended in a 28-27 Bulldogs advantage. Union got a bit more separation from the Racers after the break, winning by a final score of 64-58. Deante Johnson led the victors with his 2o points.

DAY ONE – GAME FIVE – A battle between the (3) CORNERSTONE UNIVERSITY GOLDEN EAGLES and the (BD) SAINT THOMAS UNIVERSITY BOBCATS was on the menu here. Both offenses struggled in the opening Half, with the Golden Eagles leading the Bobcats by just 28-23 at Halftime. A livelier 2nd Half ended in a 74-58 Cornerstone University victory. Kyle Steigenga notched a Double Double for the Golden Eagles with 26 points and 14 rebounds.

DAY ONE – GAME SIX – The top seeded Defending Champions of NAIA2 basketball – the INDIANA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY WILDCATS – saw action in this game against the (BD) BRESCIA UNIVERSITY BEARCATS. By the break the Wildcats led the Bearcats by a comfortable 39-25 then coasted to a 77-56 win. Bob Peters led this team effort with 13 points.

DAY ONE – GAME SEVEN – The (16) WARNER PACIFIC COLLEGE KNIGHTS squared off against the (BD) OLIVET NAZARENE UNIVERSITY TIGERS in this affair. The Knights parlayed a 40-26 Halftime advantage into an eventual 79-54 blowout win over the Tigers. Coletun Tarr’s 22 points led Warner Pacific College.

DAY ONE – GAME EIGHT – A hardcourt donnybrook between the (2) EMBRY-RIDDLE AERONAUTICAL UNIVERSITY EAGLES and the (BD) FRIENDS UNIVERSITY FALCONS was a bit of a laugher. A 38-21 Halftime lead for the team I like to call “the Aeronauts” became a 76-47 smackdown. Embry-Riddle still has only ONE loss for the entire 2014-2105 season. ERAU’s Dalton Barnes led his team with 22 points.

* NCCAA2 *

ROUND ONE – GAME ONE – All college hoops fans know that come tournament time those 7 seed versus 10 seed matchups very often end in upsets. That was the case once again as the (10) MANHATTAN CHRISTIAN COLLEGE THUNDER took on the (7) NORTH CENTRAL UNIVERSITY RAMS. The Thunder gave up an early 24-18 lead to trail the Rams 41-31 at the break. In the 2nd Half MCC came roaring back for a tight 69-68 victory. Sage Ruis scored the winning basket for the Thunder, whom he led with 25 points.

ROUND ONE – GAME TWO – The second and final game of Round One in the NCCAA tournament pitted the (8) HILLSDALE FREE WILL BAPTIST COLLEGE SAINTS against the (9) PIEDMONT INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY BRUINS. The Saints let the Bruins hang around longer than they perhaps should have but ultimately built up a comfortable cushion. The final score in this game that brought Round One to an end was Hillsdale College 77 Piedmont University 60.