MORE COLLEGE BASKETBALL CHAMPIONS CROWNED AND MUCH MORE

*** NCCAA DIVISION ONE ***

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The last two teams standing in this tourney were the top seeded EMMANUEL COLLEGE LIONS and the 2nd seeded SOUTHWESTERN CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY EAGLES. The Lions calmly went about gaining control of the game, building up a 39-29 lead over the Eagles by Halftime. Southwestern Christian University eroded that advantage a little during the 2nd Half but ultimately Emmanuel College retained just enough distance for a 75-68 victory. Kurtis Robinson led the Lions with 16 points.  * THE LIONS ARE NCCAA TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS *

*** NJCAA DIVISION ONE ***

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – It was virtually all Cinderellas left in this tournament for the past couple rounds. The title game pitted the 13th seeded SALT LAKE CITY COLLEGE BRUINS against the 7 seeds – the HUTCHINSON COLLEGE BLUE DRAGONS. True to form for this year the underdog Bruins contained the Blue Dragons and led 42-27 by the break. From there Salt Lake City stayed on top for a 74-64 triumph. Connor Toolson tossed in 28 points to lead the victors.  * THE BRUINS ARE NJCAA DIVISION ONE CHAMPIONS *  

*** NJCAA DIVISION TWO ***

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The top seed and the 3 seed faced each other in this hardcourt rumble. The (3) KIRKWOOD COLLEGE EAGLES took the court against the (1) TRITON COLLEGE TROJANS for the NJCAA2 crown. After a furiously competitive 1st Half the score stood at Eagles 37  Trojans 36. In the 2nd Half Kirkwood College slowly but surely pulled just enough away from Triton College for an 83-76 win. The top scorer for the Eagles was Nick Richards with 21 points.  * THE EAGLES ARE NJCAA DIVISION TWO CHAMPIONS *  

*** NCAA DIVISION THREE ***

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The UNIVERSITY OF SAINT THOMAS TOMMIES collided with the BENEDICTINE UNIVERSITY EAGLES. The Tommies came through the 1st Half of this Battle Royal holding a 37-32 edge over the Eagles. After the break the University of Saint Thomas couldn’t shake Benedictine University but were able to add an extra point to their lead. The final score in this game was Tommies 82  Eagles 76. Taylor Montero recorded a Double- Double for the University of St Thomas with his 27 points and 11 rebounds.  * THE TOMMIES ARE NCAA DIVISION THREE CHAMPIONS *

*** NAIA DIVISION ONE ***

FINAL FOUR – FIRST BERTH – The NAIA tends to call its Final Four the Fab Four but I’m using the term more readers are familiar with. The 4th seeded MID-AMERICA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY EVANGELS did battle with the 6 seeds – the UNIVERSITY OF THE CUMBERLANDS PATRIOTS. There were 7 ties and 12 lead changes in a game which saw the Evangels on top of the Patriots 36-33 at Halftime. After the break Mid-America Christian University and the University of the Cumberlands matched each other move for move until the Evangels eked out a 77-73 victory. Bryon Miller led MACU with a Double- Double of 17 points and 11 rebounds.

PU

FINAL FOUR – SECOND BERTH – In this game the lone 1 seed left – the GEORGETOWN (KY) COLLEGE TIGERS – took on the 3rd seeded WILLIAM PENN UNIVERSITY STATESMEN. The opening Half ended with the score knotted up at 41-41. Both teams came out of the locker room with renewed energy but the Tigers wound up executing better than the Statesmen on both sides of the ball. Georgetown College put more and more distance between themselves and WPU for a 99-80 win. Noah Cottrill’s 26 points led the Tigers.

FINAL FOUR – THIRD BERTH – The 6th seeded CAMPBELLSVILLE UNIVERSITY TIGERS squared off against the 5 seeds – the CARROLL COLLEGE FIGHTING SAINTS. The Tigers put the Fighting Saints on Upset Alert with a 45-34 advantage by the midpoint of the game. After the break Campbellsville University added some dessert to their lead, going on to win by a final tally of 83-67. Hagen Tyler was the top scorer for the Tigers with the 21 points he contributed.

FINAL FOUR – LAST BERTH – Yesterday’s NAIA hoops action ended with this clash between the 3 seeds – the MID-AMERICA NAZARENE UNIVERSITY PIONEERS – and the 5th seeded OUR LADY OF THE LAKES UNIVERSITY SAINTS. The Pioneers piled up a 15 point lead by the Half, 51-36. The 2nd Half saw the Saints fighting to catch up to their opponents but falling far short as Mid-America Nazarene University defeated them by a score of 95-82. Jonas Paige put up 24 points to pave the way for the Pioneers.  

*** NCCAA ***  

THIRD PLACE GAME – The 4 seeds – the GRACE COLLEGE LANCERS – fought it out with the 6th seeded TRINITY INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY TROJANS in this final game of the Consolation Bracket. The Lancers found themselves trailing the Trojans at Halftime by a score of 48-45, but came out of the locker room like men possessed and wound up with a 91-87 comeback win. Logan Irwin led Grace College to victory with his 24 points.