USCAA NATIONAL BASKETBALL TOURNAMENTS UNDERWAY IN BOTH DIVISIONS

USCAA DIVISION ONE

DAY ONE, GAME ONE – The 2018 Tournament in Division One of the USCAA (United States Collegiate Athletic Association) tipped off with the top seeded FLORIDA NATIONAL UNIVERSITY CONQUISTADORS taking on the 8 seeds – the BLUEFIELD STATE BIG B’s.

The Conquistadors were well and truly manhandling the Big B’s, leading them 41-28 by Halftime. After the break Florida National University kept Bluefield State at arm’s length the rest of the way, ultimately defeating them 82-68. Terence Johnson led the way for the Conquistadors with his Double Double of 18 points and 12 rebounds. 

DAY ONE, GAME TWO – Up next the 6 seeds – the OAKWOOD UNIVERSITY AMBASSADORS – surprised the 3rd seeded FLORIDA COLLEGE FALCONS.

The Ambassadors officially put the Falcons on Upset Alert by the break as they led them by a count of 40-34. Though Florida College outscored Oakwood University 37-32 in the 2nd Half the Ambassadors emerged with a 72-71 triumph. Ollie Felps’ 14 points led Oakwood U, reflecting what a true Team Effort this upset was. 

DAY ONE, GAME THREE – This game pitted the 2nd seeded UNIVERSITY OF MAINE AT FORT KENT BENGALS against the 7 seeds – the DEAN COLLEGE BULLDOGS.

The 1st Half ended with the Bengals holding a commanding 37-26 advantage over the Bulldogs. From there the pursuing Dean College nibbled a tiny bit out of the University of Maine at Fort Kent lead but still lost to them 80-71. The Bengals were led by Anthony Knight with his 24 points.

DAY ONE, GAME FOUR – The 5 seed versus 4 seed matchup is usually fairly tight. Not so in this case. The (5) ROCHESTER COLLEGE WARRIORS pretty much had their way with the (4) ILLINOIS TECH SCARLET HAWKS despite the misleadingly reasonable final score.

By the break the Warriors were on top of the Scarlet Hawks by an unbelievable THIRTY-NINE to SIXTEEN! It was virtually Game Over at that point and Rochester College coasted the rest of the way while Illinois Tech compiled a lot of garbage time points to make the end result a 72-62 Warriors win. Kash Blackwell (No relation to Cash Flagg) tossed in 15 points to lead RC. 

USCAA DIVISION TWO

DAY ONE, GAME ONE – The first of yesterday’s two games in this Division saw the 9 seeds – the VERMONT TECH GREEN KNIGHTS – take the court against the 8th seeded PENN STATE AT WILKES-BARRE LIONS.

Everything was knotted up at 29-29 come Halftime but after that Defensive Epic to start the game the Green Knights made the kind of locker room adjustments that allowed them to dominate the 2nd Half. In the end Vermont Tech routed the Lions to the tune of 69-57. The Green Knights’ Tyrone Hilson and Titus Smith each notched 20 points and 7 rebounds for the victors.

DAY ONE, GAME TWO – Opening Day for the 2018 tournament ended with this game between the 7th seeded WARREN WILSON COLLEGE OWLS and the 10 seeds – the PENN STATE AT FAYETTE ROARING LIONS.

Points flew like shrapnel in this orgy of offense and by the midpoint the Owls held a 44-37 advantage over the Roaring Lions. After the break Warren Wilson College proceeded to inch further and further away from the pursuing PSU-Fayette, ultimately defeating them by a score of 96-85. Darius Bryant’s Double Double of 16 points and 12 rebounds led the Owls.