NATIONAL COLLEGE BASKETBALL TOURNAMENTS CONTINUE

* NAIA DIVISION ONE *

DAY ONE – GAME ONE – Tipping off this year’s Division One Tournament in NAIA hoops was a game between the 6 seeds – the DALTON STATE ROADRUNNERS – and the (BD) WILEY COLLEGE WILDCATS. By Halftime the Roadrunners had built up a 47-34 lead over the Wildcats. After the break Dalton State’s  dominance continued as they kept Wiley at arm’s length for a 97-86 victory. Jordan Bowling led the Roadrunners with a Double Double of THIRTY-TWO points and SEVENTEEN rebounds.    

DAY ONE – GAME TWO – The 2015 Tournament’s first upset came next! The (BD) ARIZONA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY FIRESTORM did battle with the 14th seeded GEORGETOWN (KY) COLLEGE TIGERS, just 2 years removed from their most recent National Championship. The Firestorm found themselves down 43-35 at the break but came out strong in the 2nd Half for a 94-82 comeback win! Arizona Christian University’s Charles King led the way with his 17 points. 

DAY ONE – GAME THREE – The 3 seeds – the CAL STATE AT SAN MARCOS COUGARS – got more of a fight than they expected from the (BD) PHILANDER SMITH COLLEGE PANTHERS. By Halftime Cal State- San Marcos led the Panthers 47-42 and after 8 lead changes and 4 ties the Cougars moved on with an 85-79 victory. Julian Camper’s 25 points and 9 rebounds led the victors.

DAY ONE – GAME FOUR – Back to upsets with this game which pitted the (BD) EVANGEL UNIVERSITY CRUSADERS against the 11th seeded WAYLAND BAPTIST UNIVERSITY PIONEERS. The Crusaders had put the Pioneers on Upset Alert by the midpoint with their 33-30 advantage, then carried through on that threat, staving off Wayland Baptist for a 67-66 triumph. Brodie Wingert had 20 points to lead Evangel University. 

DAY ONE – GAME FIVE – The top seeds – the HOPE INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY ROYALS – at last saw action in this game against the (BD) WEST VIRGINIA TECH GOLDEN BEARS. The Royals got a scary wake-up call in this closer-than- expected hardcourt clash. At Halftime Hope International trailed the Golden Bears 29-26 but fought their way back for a slender 70-67 victory. The Royals’ Matt Green tossed in 20 points to lead his team.  

DAY ONE – GAME SIX – Yet another 1st Round upset with this game! The (BD) UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA- WESTERN BULLDOGS took the court against the 16th seeded BENEDICT COLLEGE RAVENS. Though the Ravens led by as many as 14 points in the 1st Half by the break the Bulldogs had surged from behind to go into the locker room with a 43-39 lead. After that UMW hung on against Benedict College for an 80-77 win. Stephen McCall had THIRTY-SIX points for the Bulldogs.

DAY ONE – GAME SEVEN – The upsets kept coming with this contest which featured the (BD) UNIVERSITY OF THE CUMBERLANDS PATRIOTS up against the 9th seeded LSU-ALEXANDRIA GENERALS. This game was a true classic of smothering defense from both teams. At Halftime the Patriots had just a 27-26 edge over the Generals, then went on to win by a final tally of just 55-47. UC was led by Xavier Owens with 16 points.  

DAY ONE – GAME EIGHT – Closing out Day One action was a game between the 8 seeds – the MARTIN METHODIST COLLEGE RED HAWKS and the (BD) SOUTHWESTERN ASSEMBLIES OF GOD UNIVERSITY LIONS. The Lions actually held a 3 point lead at one point in the opening Half but the Red Hawks exploded from there for lasting control of the game. A 33-28 Halftime advantage for Martin Methodist College eventually became a decisive 74-56 victory. Monte Burney’s 18 points led the Red Hawks. 

* NCCAA DIVISION ONE *

DAY ONE – GAME ONE – The top seeds – the LEE UNIVERSITY FLAMES – got an enormous 1st Round scare yesterday against the 8th seeded CROWLEY’S RIDGE COLLEGE PIONEERS. By Halftime the Pioneers had managed a 34-31 lead but the Flames regrouped in the locker room and came out blazing for the 2nd Half. In the end it was a tight 63-61 comeback win for Lee University in this Instant Classic. Chase Cullen had a Double Double for the Flames with 19 points and 16 rebounds.  

DAY ONE – GAME TWO – It was a battle of 2 CCU’s next as the 4th seeded COLORADO CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY COUGARS took on the 5th seeded CINCINNATI CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY GOLDEN EAGLES. The Golden Eagles snatched a 32-31 lead to end the 1st Half, then after the intermission the Cougars went back on top. They stayed there, too, advancing by a score of 68-61. Michael Brown’s 23 points led the Cougars. 

DAY ONE – GAME THREE – In this game the 2 seeds – the EMMANUEL COLLEGE LIONS – had no trouble dispatching the 7th seeded SIMPSON UNIVERSITY RED HAWKS. By Halftime the Lions were comfortably on top of the Red Hawks by a score of 43-20. From there Emmanuel College went on to win the game by a final tally of 78-50. Luke Miller led the Lions with his 14 points.  

DAY ONE – GAME FOUR – An upset was in store in the next game as the 6th seeded DALLAS BAPTIST UNIVERSITY PATRIOTS stunned the 3 seeds – the GRACE COLLEGE LANCERS. The Lancers had compiled a 28-20 lead by the break but watched the Patriots take over in the 2nd Half. Dallas Baptist University outscored Grace College 43-27 after intermission for a 63-55 victory. The Patriots were led by Amari Bryant with 16 points and Jonathan Perry with a Double Double of 10 points and 12 rebounds.