TWO MORE BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS WON PLUS MORE POSTSEASON ACTION

* NJCAA DIVISION THREE *

CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The last two teams standing in NJCAA Division Three hoops were, appropriately enough – the top two seeds. The 2nd seeds – the RICHLAND COLLEGE THUNDER DUCKS – took on the number 1 seeded ROCK VALLEY COLLEGE GOLDEN EAGLES. At Halftime it looked as if the Golden Eagles would be joining their women’s team as National Champions since the men held a 35-27 lead over the Thunder Ducks. Richland College regrouped in the locker room then mounted a comeback for the ages, ultimately winning the game by a final score of 67-64. Kierre Moore led the victors with 20 points. * CONGRATULATIONS TO THE THUNDER DUCKS, THE 2015 CHAMPIONS OF NJCAA3 BASKETBALL!

* CCCAA *

CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – It was an all-SoCal Division title clash this year. Southern California’s top seeded SADDLEBACK COLLEGE GAUCHOS battled the South’s 2nd seeded team the EAST LOS ANGELES COLLEGE HUSKIES. This game was a clinic in defensive basketball and by Halftime the score stood at just 28-25 with the Huskies on top. The 2nd Half was more of the same but in the end the Gauchos overtook East Los Angeles College while limiting them to just 19 more points. Saddleback College won this game for the ages by a score of 50-47. Conor Clifford led the victors with 16 points. * CONGRATULATIONS TO THE GAUCHOS, THE 2015 CHAMPIONS OF CCCAA BASKETBALL! *  

* NCAA DIVISION TWO *

– FIRST ROUND –

SEVEN SEED OVER TWO SEED UPSET – One of the 7 seeds – the LEWIS UNIVERSITY FLYERS – pulled off a colossal upset of the 2nd seeded UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN AT PARKSIDE RANGERS. The Flyers put the Rangers on notice by Halftime with a 37-36 edge, than carried through on that threat by eliminating them 70-62. Max Strus had 20 points and 9 rebounds to lead Lewis University.   

OTHER SEVEN OVER TWO UPSETS – The (7) MIDWESTERN STATE UNIVERSITY MUSTANGS sent a message of their own, taking down those perennial hoops powers the (2) METRO STATE UNIVERSITY ROADRUNNERS in a 58-56 masterpiece of defensive basketball.     ###     And the (7) SLIPPERY ROCK ROCKETS stunned the (2) GANNON UNIVERSITY GOLDEN KNIGHTS by a score of 65-57.   

SIX SEED OVER THREE SEED UPSET – One of the 6 seeds – the UNIVERSITY OF THE SCIENCES DEVILS – blinded the 3rd seeded SAINT ANSELM UNIVERSITY HAWKS with science. By the break the Devils were up on the Hawks 33-21 and when all the dust had settled University of the Sciences advanced with an authoritative 73-57 triumph. Garrett Kerr led the Devils with an astounding FORTY points and 14 rebounds. 

MORE SIX OVER THREE UPSETS – The (6) LYNN UNIVERSITY FIGHTING KNIGHTS did battle with the (3) UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT HUNTSVILLE CHARGERS and sent them home with an 80-62 smackdown.     ###      And the (6) ANGELO STATE UNIVERSITY RAMS toppled the (3) TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY AT COMMERCE LIONS in an 85-79 thriller.  

FIVE SEED OVER FOUR SEED UPSET – There was only one 5 seed over 4 seed upset, believe it or not, and it involved the 5th seeded SOUTHERN CONNECTICUT STATE UNIVERSITY OWLS against the 4th seeded UNIVERSITY OF BRIDGEPORT PURPLE KNIGHTS. The Owls turned a 47-41 Halftime lead into an 88-75 victory. Michael Mallory led Southern Connecticut State with 24 points while his teammate Desmond Williams notched a Double Double of 19 points and 14 rebounds.  

TOP SEEDS IN THE CENTURY CLUB – Two of the number 1 seeds hit the Century Club in their First Round victories. The (1) WEST LIBERTY STATE HILLTOPPERS put up 127 points to the 89 points managed by the 8th seeded LIVINGSTONE COLLEGE BLUE BEARS.     ###      And the (1) AUGUSTANA (SD) VIKINGS defeated the 8th seeded ARKANSAS TECH WONDERBOYS by a score of 104-77.  

LMU ROLLS ON – Meanwhile another of the 1 seeds – the LINCOLN MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY RAILSPLITTERS – fell just short of the Century Club in their rout of an 8 seed – in their case the NORTH GREENVILLE UNIVERSITY CRUSADERS. A fairly close 38-29 Halftime lead for the Railsplitters over the Crusaders ultimately became a 95-62 blowout. LMU’s Keenan Peterson led his team with a Double Double of 23 points and 12 rebounds.  

ALMOST PERFECT – Yet another of the 1 seeds – the FLORIDA SOUTHERN COLLEGE MOCCASINS – have still lost only ONE game for the entire 2014-2015 season. Their First Round matchup was against the 8th seeded BENEDICT COLLEGE TIGERS. A slender 46-42 lead for the Moccasins at the break wound up as an 89-68 rout in the end. Michael Volovic and Dominique Williams both had 16 points for Florida Southern.

OTHER ONE SEEDS ADVANCING – Two other 1 seeds moved on to the Second Round. The (1) BELLARMINE UNIVERSITY KNIGHTS smacked down the 8th seeded DRURY UNIVERSITY PANTHERS by a score of 84-60.     ###      And the (1) AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE YELLOW JACKETS won a 58-53 defensive epic against the (8) PHILADELPHIA UNIVERSITY RAMS. 

SECOND HALF SURGE – One of the 2 seeds – the SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE UNIVERSITY PENMEN – took the court against the 7th seeded STONEHILL COLLEGE SKYHAWKS. At Halftime the score was knotted up at 31-31 but after the break the Penmen seized control, going on to defeat the Skyhawks 71-59. Devin Gilligan had 17 points and 9 rebounds to lead Southern New Hampshire University. 

DRAGONS VS GORILLAS: NOT A MOVIE – Another 2 seed – the MINNESOTA STATE AT MOORHEAD DRAGONS did battle with the 7th seeded PITTSBURG (KS) STATE GORILLAS. The Dragons put up 40 points in both Halves, leading the Gorillas 40-32 at the break and winning the game 80-68. Isaac Sevlie tossed in 23 points to lead Minnesota State at Moorhead.  

OTHER TWO SEEDS ADVANCING – The 2nd seeded BARRY UNIVERSITY BUCCANEERS eliminated the 7th seeded UNION (TN) BULLDOGS by a final score of 73-59 on their way to the next round.     ###      And the (2) UNIVERSITY OF MONTEVALLO FALCONS logged a 74-69 come from behind win over the (7) CARSON- NEWMAN UNIVERSITY EAGLES.    

ROUNDBALL RUMBLE – One of the 3 seeds – the UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT PEMBROKE BRAVES – squared off against the 6th seeded COLUMBUS STATE COUGARS. At Halftime the Braves held a 40-32 advantage over the Cougars but had to hold on against a furious Columbus State comeback bid to win by a score of 89-82. UNC- Pembroke’s Griffin Pittman led the Braves with his amazing THIRTY-ONE points.

AERIAL VICTORY – Another 3 seed – the INDIANA UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA CRIMSON HAWKS took on the 6th seeded GLENVILLE STATE PIONEERS in this game. By the midpoint the Crimson Hawks had seized a 33-20 lead which they converted into a 73-52 smackdown win. Devante Chance had 22 points for IUP while his teammate Daddy Ugbede notched a Double Double with 10 points and 12 rebounds. 

KICKING LIKE A MULE – Another 3 seed over 6 seed battle pitted the (3) UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL MISSOURI MULES against the (6) NORTHERN STATE WOLVES. The Mules led the Wolves 43-31 at Halftime and kept them at arm’s length throughout the 2nd Half to move on with an 82-72 victory. Central Missouri’s Rakeem Dickerson led the Mules with his 22 points. 

DOGFIGHT – The 3rd seeded UNIVERSITY OF INDIANAPOLIS GREYHOUNDS faced the 6th seeded MICHIGAN TECH HUSKIES in this hardcourt clash. The Greyhounds outdid the Huskies on both sides of the ball, leading them by a score of 35-22 at the break enroute to a 74-53 triumph. Joe Lawson tossed in 21 points to lead the University of Indianapolis.  

THE SUPERIOR TEAM – In this next game one of the 4 seeds – the LAKE SUPERIOR STATE LAKERS – found themselves duking it out with the 5th seeded FERRIS STATE BULLDOGS. At Halftime the Lakers were up 31-26 but the Bulldogs tied the game at 67-67 to force Overtime. Lake Superior State owned the extra session, outscoring Ferris State 11-2 for a 78-69 victory. Alex Williams of the Lakers led his team with his 21 points.   

COLORADO COLLISION – The game may have been played in Texas but both teams were from further north as the 4th seeded UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO AT COLORADO SPRINGS COUGARS took on the 5th seeded COLORADO MINES OREDIGGERS. The Cougars led the Orediggers 43-36 at the Half but then had to withstand a furious comeback attempt from Colorado Mines. In the end UC-Colorado Springs advanced by a tight score of 90-87. Derrick White’s Double Double featured an unbelievable FIFTY points and 14 rebounds.  

FOURS OVER FIVES – The 4th seeded UNIVERSITY OF MOUNT OLIVE WARRIORS and the 5th seeded GEORGIA REGENTS UNIVERSITY AT AUGUSTA JAGUARS were tied up at 42-42 by Halftime. After the break the Warriors went on to win the game 84-75.     ###      And the (4) UNIVERSITY OF WEST GEORGIA WOLVES came from behind against the (5) UNIVERSITY OF WEST ALABAMA TIGERS to advance by a final score of 80-79.