NAIA CHAMPIONS CROWNED PLUS MORE HOOPS TOURNAMENT ACTION

* NAIA2 *

CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The 3 seeds – the CORNERSTONE UNIVERSITY GOLDEN EAGLES – rolled to their third National Championship and their second in the last four years. The 5th seeded DAKOTA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY TIGERS were contained by the Golden Eagles, who had their way with the Tigers on offense, too. By Halftime Cornerstone University was on top FORTY-TWO to TWENTY then coasted in the 2nd Half to a 66-45 triumph. Ben Lanning and Kyle Steigenga each had a Double Double for the Golden Eagles – Lanning with 24 points and 10 rebounds, Steigenga with 14 points and 11 rebounds. * CONGRATULATIONS TO THE GOLDEN EAGLES, THE 2015 NATIONAL CHAMPIONS OF NAIA2 BASKETBALL! *  

* NCAA DIVISION TWO *

SWEET SIXTEEN  – GAME ONE – In this game one of the 3 seeds – the INDIANA UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA CRIMSON HAWKS faced one of the 1 seeds – the WEST LIBERTY STATE HILLTOPPERS. The Crimson Hawks were within 2 points of the Hilltoppers – 45-43 – at Halftime. After the break IUP came from behind to take the lead and ultimately pulled off the upset by a score of 77-74. Shawn Dyer led the Crimson Hawks with 23 points.

SWEET SIXTEEN – GAME TWO – The 4th seeded UNIVERSITY OF MOUNT OLIVE TROJANS went up against the 2nd seeded UNIVERSITY OF MONTEVALLO FALCONS. The Falcons were on top of the Trojans 43-39 at the break only to see the University of Mount Olive overtake them in the 2nd Half. In the end the Trojans won this upset by a final tally of 82-75. Dominique Reed’s 23 points led the victors.

SWEET SIXTEEN – GAME THREE – This clash was between the 1 seeded FLORIDA SOUTHERN COLLEGE MOCCASINS and the 6th seeded LYNN UNIVERSITY FIGHTING KNIGHTS. By the midpoint buzzer the Moccasins were on top of the Fighting Knights by a score of 42-34 but could not shake any further loose from the persistent 6 seeds the rest of the game. In the end Florida Southern College advanced to the Elite Eight by a score of 88-80. The Mocs were led by Dylan Travis with 25 points and Bubby Johnson with a Double Double of 15 points and 11 rebounds.

SWEET SIXTEEN – GAME FOUR – The 1 seeded AZUSA PACIFIC UNIVERSITY COUGARS initially got a huge fight from the 3 seeds – the CAL BAPTIST UNIVERSITY LANCERS. At Halftime the Cougars were barely clinging to a 35-33 edge but after the break Azusa Pacific University took charge, moving further and further away from the Lancers. By game’s end the Cougars had won by a healthy margin of 91-79. 23 points from Troy Leaf led Azusa Pacific into the Elite Eight. 

SWEET SIXTEEN – GAME FIVE – Up next another 1 seed – the TARLETON STATE UNIVERSITY TEXANS – advanced at the expense of another 6 seed – the ANGELO STATE UNIVERSITY RAMS. The Texans converted a 29-27 lead over the Rams into a victory by the final score of 66-64. Seven of the Tarleton State players scored in this team effort, led by Mo Lee who put up 14 points all by himself.  

SWEET SIXTEEN – GAME SIX – This time around the (1) BELLARMINE UNIVERSITY KNIGHTS took the court against the (3) UNIVERSITY OF INDIANAPOLIS GREYHOUNDS. At Halftime it was a tight 35-32 edge for the Knights over the Greyhounds but after the break Bellarmine University inched further and further away from the University of Indianapolis. The final result was Knights 81  Greyhounds 72. Jake Thelen recorded a Double Double of 24 points and 15 rebounds for Bellarmine U.

SWEET SIXTEEN – GAME SEVEN – The 2nd seeded SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE UNIVERSITY PENMEN dominated the 5th seeded SOUTHERN CONNECTICUT STATE OWLS on both sides of the ball in this contest. The Penmen had the Owls contained at the Half 32-29 and by the time all was said and done Southern New Hampshire University moved on to the Elite Eight by a score of 76-58. Rodney Sanders led the Penmen with a Double Double of 13 points and 10 rebounds.

SWEET SIXTEEN – GAME EIGHT – It was a defensive clinic in this game as the 2nd seeded MINNESOTA STATE AT MOORHEAD DRAGONS battled the 4 seeds – the NORTHWEST MISSOURI STATE BEARCATS. Things stood at an unbelievable 20-18 in favor of the Dragons as Halftime arrived. The 2nd Half was more of the same with MSU-Moorhead ultimately defeating the Bearcats by a score of 47-42. Jordan Reiwer tossed in 13 points to lead the Dragons.   

* NJCAA *

ROUND ONE – GAME SEVEN – Day Two of the NJCAA Tournament started off with a game between the 19 seeds – the GEORGIA HIGHLAND COLLEGE CHARGERS – and the 14th seeded BUTLER (KS) GRIZZLIES. The Chargers put the Grizzlies on Upset Alert at Halftime with their 36-35 edge but after an equally tight 2nd Half of play Regulation ended in a 76-76 tie. In the extra session Georgia Highland College emerged with a 88-86 victory in this Instant Classic. Ty Toney led the Chargers with THIRTY-ONE points while teammate Terrence Thompson had a Double Double with 11 points and 13 rebounds.  

ROUND ONE – GAME EIGHT – The highest seeds get a Bye in Round One so this game brought an end to Round One. The 11th seeded TRINITY VALLEY COLLEGE CARDINALS took on the 22 seeds – the MONROE COLLEGE MUSTANGS. It looked like there might be another upset in the offing as the Mustangs led 45-31 at the break. The Cardinals made a spectacular 2nd Half comeback and won the game Sheldon Hagigal’s 26 points led Trinity Valley College. 

ROUND TWO – GAME ONE – Second Round got underway with a clash between the 12 seeds – the HILL COLLEGE REBELS – and the 5th seeded MINERAL AREA COLLEGE CARDINALS. This was a true game for the ages as the Rebels held a 39-37 Halftime lead and then, after an equally tight 2nd Half eked out an 84-83 upset win. Hill College’s Marcus Johnson, Jr led the way with 24 points while teammate Jemerrio Jones logged a Double Double of 11 points and 13 rebounds.   

ROUND TWO – GAME TWO – Yet another upset came in the hardcourt grudge match between the 20th seeded HOLMES COLLEGE BULLDOGS and the 4 seeds – the INDIAN HILLS COLLEGE WARRIORS. At the break the Bulldogs had a surprising but slight lead of 37-36. After the intermission Holmes College parlayed that into a stunning 78-67 upset of the potent Warriors. Daryl Macon tossed in 20 points to lead the Bulldogs. 

ROUND TWO – GAME THREE – An 8 seed versus 9 seed game was on tap next. The (8) SOUTH PLAINS COLLEGE TEXANS did battle with the (9) VINCENNES UNIVERSITY TRAILBLAZERS. The Texans compiled a 45-37 lead over the Trailblazers by Halftime, then managed a little bit more separation after the break for an 80-68 win. Andre Spight’s THIRTY-THREE points led South Plains College, and his teammate Emmanuel Omogbo recorded a Double Double of 20 points and 14 rebounds.  

ROUND TWO – GAME FOUR – Up next the top seeds – the CONNORS STATE COWBOYS – who have still lost only ONE game all season, took the court against the 17th seeded TYLER COLLEGE APACHES. The score was knotted up at 34-34 by intermission but after the break the Cowboys got a larger and larger lead on the Apaches, ultimately winning by a comfortable score of 78-62. Corlbe Ervin led Connors State with 23 points. Cowboy Arlando Cook had a Double Double of 21 points and 10 rebounds.  

– Round Two will continue the next day –

* NJCAA DIVISION TWO *

DAY ONE – GAME ONE – The GARRETT COLLEGE LAKERS did battle with the ESSEX COLLEGE WOLVERINES in this game. The Lakers led the Wolverines from start to finish in this hardcourt brouhaha. A 42-36 advantage for Garrett College at the break eventually became a victory by a final score of 82-75. Rze (sic) Culbreath of the Lakers led the way with 17 points.  

DAY ONE – GAME TWO – The SCHOOLCRAFT COLLEGE OCELOTS and the GENESEE COLLEGE COUGARS seemed pretty evenly matched in the opening Half, with the Ocelots on top by just 40-36 at the midpoint buzzer. In the 2nd Half Schoolcraft College put a little more distance between themselves and the Cougars to win the game 79-69. Ja’Christian Biles and Javan Thomas both had a Double Double for the Ocelots – Biles with 26 points and 10 rebounds, Thomas with 13 points and 14 rebounds. 

DAY ONE – GAME THREE – This game pitted the RICHARD BLAND COLLEGE STATESMEN against the METROPOLITAN COLLEGE AT PENN VALLEY SCOUTS. The Scouts gave the Statesmen a pretty good fight but the game was like a Marathon Run with Richard Bland College slowly getting more and more separation from Penn Valley. In the end the final score was Statesmen 87  Scouts 76. RBC’s Avery Ugba notched a Double Double with 21 points and 18 rebounds.  

DAY ONE – GAME FOUR – This game between the JOHN WOOD COLLEGE TRAIL BLAZERS and the OLIVE-HARVEY COLLEGE PANTHERS was a back and forth affair that featured 8 ties and 9 lead changes. The Trail Blazers always bounced back in front, however, leading the Panthers 32-28 at the Half and ultimately winning the game 76-65. Brady Gronewold put up 19 points to lead John Wood College.    

DAY ONE – GAME FIVE – Up next was a contest that saw the LAKELAND (OH) COLLEGE LAKERS take on the COLLEGE OF BALTIMORE COUNTY AT DUNDALK LIONS. The Lakers asserted their dominance early, seizing a 43-34 advantage over the Lions by Halftime and converting that into a 92-72 rout. Lakeland College was led by Mike Davis with 21 points and by Montell Goodwin with a Double Double of 16 points and 10 rebounds. 

DAY ONE – GAME SIX – The least competitive game of the day was this clash between the PHOENIX COLLEGE BEARS and the SOUTHEAST COLLEGE STORM. After yawning their way to a 37-23 lead over the Storm by the break the Bears proceeded to pile on the points even more. In the end Phoenix College advanced with an 81-51 beatdown of their opponents. Brandon Brown tossed in 27 points to lead the Bears.