COLLEGE BASKETBALL TOURNAMENTS ROLL ON

*** NAIA ***

SOUTHERN STATES ATHLETIC CONFERENCE – OPENING ROUND – The 10th seeded COLLEGE OF COASTAL GEORGIA MARINERS got things going against the 7 seeds – the BETHEL (TN) WILDCATS. The Mariners put the Wildcats on Upset Alert by Halftime with a 39-31 lead, then held on for a 74-69 victory. Dominic Early led the Mariners with a Double-Double of 22 points and 11 rebounds.    ###    And the 8th seeded LOYOLA (New Orleans) WOLFPACK had no trouble with the 9th seeded UNIVERSITY OF MOBILE RAMS, defeating them 70-53. 

AMERICAN MIDWEST CONFERENCE – OPENING ROUND – The 3 seeds – the PARK UNIVERSITY PIRATES – went into Overtime with the 6th seeded WILLIAMS BAPTIST COLLEGE EAGLES before sneaking out with a 95-92 win.    ###    In the 2 spot the COLUMBIA (MO) COUGARS got more than they bargained for from the 7th seeded HARRIS-STOWE STATE HORNETS, but prevailed by a score of 87-81.    ###    Meanwhile the (1) FREED-HARDEMAN UNIVERSITY LIONS won a 91-71 clash with the (8) LINDENWOOD UNIVERSITY AT BELLEVILLE LYNX    ###    And in a 5 seed over 4 seed upset the WILLIAM WOODS UNIVERSITY OWLS downed the MISSOURI BAPTIST SPARTANS by a final score of 85-71.  

HEART OF AMERICA ATHLETIC CONFERENCE – SECOND ROUND – The 3rd seeded WILLIAM PENN UNIVERSITY STATESMEN battled the 6 seeds – the BENEDICTINE COLLEGE RAVENS – and defeated them 83-70    ###    Next the 2nd seeded PERU STATE BOBCATS bounced the 10th seeded GRAND VIEW UNIVERSITY VIKINGS in a 94-82 affair    ###    The (5) GRACELAND UNIVERSITY YELLOW JACKETS stung the (4) AVILA UNIVERSITY EAGLES (formerly the Avalanche) in a 94-83 upset    ###    And the (1) MID-AMERICA NAZARENE UNIVERSITY PIONEERS dispatched the (8) MISSOURI VALLEY COLLEGE VIKINGS 94-75.       

 SOONER ATHLETIC CONFERENCE – OPENING ROUND – The 8 seeds – the JOHN BROWN UNIVERSITY GOLDEN EAGLES (should be called the Abolitionists) – triumphed over the 9th seeded SAINT GREGORY’S UNIVERSITY CAVALIERS in an 81-62 affair.    ###    And in the only other game in the SAC last night the 7th seeded SOUTHWESTERN ASSEMBLIES OF GOD UNIVERSITY LIONS took the court against the 10th seeded BACONE COLLEGE WARRIORS. The Lions knocked out the Warriors by a much closer final tally of 73-65.

*** USCAA DIVISION TWO ***

QUARTERFINAL ONE – The day’s action started with a 4 seed versus 5 seed affair as the (4) WARREN WILSON COLLEGE OWLS went up against the (5) UNIVERSITY OF MAINE AT MACHIAS CLIPPERS. The Owls were clinging by their fingertips to a 35-34 Halftime edge but got more separation after the break, winning the game by a score of 82-68. Devin Davis came off the bench for the Owls with 16 points and 6 rebounds.  

QUARTERFINAL TWO – Next the 6 seeds – the JOHNSON & WALES (NC) UNIVERSITY WILDCATS – surprised the 3rd seeded PENN STATE UNIVERSITY AT MONT ALTO NITTANY LIONS. A 65-65 tie to end Regulation became a 73-73 tie at the end of the 1st OT session. In Double Overtime the Wildcats squeezed out an 82-80 victory. Nick Crawford came close to a Triple Double for the winners, logging 28 points, 10 rebounds and 9 assists.

QUARTERFINAL THREE – The BERKELEY (NY) COLLEGE KNIGHTS came into the tourney as the number 1 seed and played the 8th seeded COLLEGE OF SAINT JOSEPH’S (VT) FIGHTING SAINTS, fresh off their Opening Round win. The Knights parlayed a 42-35 Halftime lead into an 88-69 triumph over the Fighting Saints. Johnnie Green led Berkeley College with 17 points and 12 rebounds.

QUARTERFINAL FOUR – In the 2 spot the CENTRAL PENN COLLEGE SILVER KNIGHTS squared off against the 7 seeds – the PENN STATE UNIVERSITY AT FAYETTE ROARING LIONS. The Silver Knights trailed the Roaring Lions 50-47 at the break but came back to force Overtime with a 93-93 tie. In the extra session Central Penn College emerged with a 110-102 win. Tyree Tucker’s Double Double of 22 points and 11 rebounds led the Silver Knights.

USCAA CONSOLATION BRACKET – This consolation game pitted the 10 seeds – the CENTRAL MAINE COLLEGE MUSTANGS – against the 9th seeded UNIVERSITY OF MAINE AT PRESQUE ISLE OWLS. The Mustangs were on top 45-30 at the Half and held off the Owls after the break to cement the upset by a score of 91-73. Central Maine College’s Pietro Badalassi put up 25 points and 14 rebounds for his team.