NAIA AND NCCAA NATIONAL TOURNAMENTS CONTINUE PLUS MORE

* NAIA2 *

DAY TWO – GAME ONE – The second day of First Round action in the NAIA2 got underway with the (BD) GRACE COLLEGE LANCERS toppling the (7) BELLEVUE UNIVERSITY BRUINS. The Lancers trailed the Bruins by just 33-30 at Halftime, then made their move during a 2nd Half dominated by smothering defense from both teams. In the end Grace College advanced with a 54-50 upset victory. Logan Irwin’s 21 points led the Lancers.

DAY TWO – GAME TWO – This game pitted the (6) MORNINGSIDE COLLEGE MUSTANGS against the (BD) TABOR COLLEGE BLUE JAYS. At first it seemed like another upset might be in the air, with the Mustangs facing a 34-30 deficit to the Blue Jays. After the break Morningside College came from behind to win the game by a final score of 86-79. Steve O’Neill tossed in 26 points to lead the mighty Mustangs. 

DAY TWO – GAME THREE – A battle between the (BD) SOUTHERN OREGON UNIVERSITY RAIDERS and the (10) MIDLAND UNIVERSITY WARRIORS may have been the Game of the Day. At the Half the Raiders were playing catch-up in a 41-35 affair but ultimately poured it on for a nailbiting 73-71 triumph. SOU’s Jordan West led his team with 21 points.  

DAY TWO – GAME FOUR – The (5) DAKOTA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY TIGERS took on the (BD) MILLIGAN COLLEGE BUFFALOES next. The Tigers had no trouble whatsoever with their First Round opponent, leading 55-31 at the midpoint enroute to a 98-55 smackdown. Jalen Voss had 26 points for Dakota Wesleyan University. 

DAY TWO – GAME FIVE – The (BD) ASHFORD UNIVERSITY SAINTS provided another First Round upset in their clash with the (12) BETHEL (IN) COLLEGE PILOTS (Riverboat Pilots). A slow opening Half ended with the Saints down 26-24. After the break both offenses found their rhythm, but Ashford University became unstoppable, coming back to win handily in an 83-57 rout. Diamontae McKinley led the victors with THIRTY-THREE points.   

DAY TWO – GAME SIX – Up next was a roundball showdown between the (8) DAVENPORT UNIVERSITY PANTHERS and the (BD) BRIAR CLIFF UNIVERSITY CHARGERS. This game rivaled the SOU-Midland bout for Game of the Day. The Panthers came back from a 35-31 Halftime deficit to win by a nerve-wracking 68-66. Dominez Burnett scored THIRTY points for Davenport University.  

DAY TWO – GAME SEVEN – The (9) MOUNT MERCY UNIVERSITY MUSTANGS took the court against the (BD) CAL MARITIME ACADEMY KEELHAULERS for another thrilling contest. The Mustangs were confident at the Half, leading the Keelhaulers 36-26 but Cal Maritime Academy came roaring back after the break. In the end Mt Mercy barely held on for a 64-61 victory. Kyle Lamaak led the Mustangs with 17 points.

DAY TWO – GAME EIGHT – The second and final day of the NAIA2’s First Round came to a close with Game Eight. The (11) UNIVERSITY OF SAINT FRANCIS (IN) COUGARS faced the (BD) UNIVERSITY OF ST FRANCIS (IL) FIGHTING SAINTS. The score was 30-29 in favor of the Cougars at Halfime and ended with the Cougars eking out a bare 70-68 win by the skin of their teeth. Austin Fox had 19 points for the victors. 

* NCCAA2 *

FINAL FOUR – FIRST BERTH – The 8th seeded HILLSDALE FREE WILL BAPTIST COLLEGE SAINTS delivered the upset of the tournament thus far against the top seeded Defending Champions – the OHIO CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY TRAILBLAZERS. The Saints put the Trailblazers on notice by Halftime with their 37-31 advantage. After the break Hillsdale managed to withstand the furious OCU comeback attempt, holding on for an 82-80 upset! Phil Carey’s THIRTY-FOUR points led the Saints into the Final Four. 

FINAL FOUR – SECOND BERTH – This game pitted the DALLAS CHRISTIAN COLLEGE CRUSADERS against the 5 seeds – the PORTLAND BIBLE COLLEGE WILDCATS. At the midpoint the score was knotted up at 37-37 but the Crusaders got just enough elbow room in the 2nd Half for a 77-74 victory. Miles Burnside led Dallas Christian College with 20 points to propel the Crusaders into the Final Four. 

FINAL FOUR – THIRD BERTH – The 3 seeds – the GRACE BIBLE COLLEGE TIGERS – took on the 6th seeded UNIVERSITY OF VALLEY FORGE PATRIOTS in this game. The Tigers were in control for virtually the whole 40 minutes, leading 45-27 at Halftime enroute to an 82-62 victory. Bernard Smith’s Double Double of 26 points and 10 rebounds led GBC on its way to the Final Four. 

FINAL FOUR – LAST BERTH – The final berth in the 2015 Final Four for NCCAA2 was fought over by the 2nd seeded LANCASTER BIBLE COLLEGE CHARGERS and the 10 seeds – the MANHATTAN CHRISTIAN COLLEGE THUNDER. The Chargers had fought their way to a 41-34 lead at the break then poured it on in the 2nd Half for an 87-64 triumph. LBC’s Dondre Perry led his team with 17 points on their march into the Final Four.  

** CONSOLATION BRACKET – In the Consolation Bracket for the NCCAA2 the 7 seeds – the NORTH CENTRAL UNIVERSITY RAMS – did battle with the 9th seeded PIEDMONT INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY BRUINS. The Bruins kept things tight for as long as they possibly could but in the end the Rams pulled away. The final score in this Consolation Bracket clash was North Central University 85  Piedmont International University 76.

* NJCAA DIVISION THREE *

FINAL FOUR – FIRST BERTH – The 2nd seeded RICHLAND COLLEGE THUNDER DUCKS took the court against the unseeded COLLEGE OF PHILADELPHIA COLONIALS for this first berth in the Final Four. By Halftime the Thunder Ducks had seized a 35-29 lead over the Colonials. After the break Richland kept up the pressure on both sides of the ball, resulting in an authoritative 72-58 victory. Trey Hall led the Thunder Ducks with his 15 points.

FINAL FOUR – SECOND BERTH – The unseeded HOSTOS COLLEGE CAIMANS pulled off the upset of the tournament so far against the 3 seeds – the HERKIMER COLLEGE GENERALS. The Caimans put the Generals on Upset Alert by the midpoint, leading in the game 37-31. In the 2nd Half Hostos College took full control, ultimately winning by a final score of 81-65. Estalin Cespedes came off the bench to lead the Caimans with 18 points.  

FINAL FOUR – THIRD BERTH – In this game the top seeded ROCK VALLEY COLLEGE GOLDEN EAGLES took on the unseeded ROXBURY TIGERS. A 39-27 Halftime lead for the Golden Eagles over the Tigers became an 81-65 victory for them in the end. Ben Grygiel notched a Double Double for Rock Valley College with 18 points and 10 rebounds. The Golden Eagles have still lost just THREE games all season.

FINAL FOUR – LAST BERTH – This hardcourt clash was between the 4 seeds – the ROCHESTER TECH YELLOW JACKETS – and the unseeded SANDHILLS COLLEGE FLYERS, just a few years removed from their most recent National Championship. At first the Flyers gave the Yellow Jackets a fierce fight, trailing them by just 47-44. After the break Rochester Tech smacked Sandhills College down hard on their way to a 90-69 blowout. Justyn Galloway’s 22 points led the Yellow Jackets.