2023 COLLEGE BASKETBALL POSTSEASON IS UNDERWAY

The college basketball postseason for 2023 has tipped off in the divisions covered here at Balladeer’s Blog.

NAIA CONFERENCE TOURNAMENTS

NORTH STAR ATHLETIC CONFERENCE – It was all chalk in the opening round of the NSAC Tournament. The top-seeded MAYVILLE STATE COMETS swatted the (8) PRESENTATION COLLEGE SAINTS 91-63   ###   Meanwhile, the 4 seeds – the VALLEY CITY STATE VIKINGS – eliminated the (5) BELLEVUE (NE) BRUINS 72-54   ###   And the (3) DICKINSON STATE BLUE HAWKS won 72-60 over the (6) DAKOTA STATE TROJANS.

MID-SOUTH CONFERENCE – In the MSC 1st round, the 9 seeds – the CUMBERLAND UNIVERSITY PHOENIX – upset the 8th seeded BETHEL (TN) WILDCATS in a 70-68 thriller   ###   Elsewhere, the 10th seeded CAMPBELLSVILLE UNIVERSITY TIGERS toppled the 7 seeds – the UNIVERSITY OF THE CUMBERLANDS PATRIOTS 71-55   ###   And the 11 seeds – the LINDSEY-WILSON COLLEGE BLUE RAIDERS knocked off the TENNESSEE SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY BULLDOGS 84-82.

NCAA DIV 3 CONFERENCE TOURNAMENTS

AMERICAN RIVERS CONFERENCE – Game One action saw the LORAS COLLEGE DUHAWKS take on the WARTBURG COLLEGE KNIGHTS. The Duhawks held a comfortable 51-35 advantage come Halftime, but after the break the Knights mounted a rally. In the end Loras had to hold on for a tight 85-80 victory. Ali Sabet led the Duhawks with 16 points.

AMERICAN RIVERS CONFERENCE – Game Two pitted the COE COLLEGE KOHAWKS visited the NEBRASKA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY PRAIRIE WOLVES. The Kohawks doubled up on the Prairie Wolves 40-20 by the Half. From there Coe College kept their opponents at arm’s length while cruising to a 78-60 triumph. Cael Schmitt and T.J. Schnurr each logged 20 points to lead the Kohawks. 

CENTENNIAL CONFERENCE – Game One featured the GETTYSBURG COLLEGE BULLETS playing the FRANKLIN & MARSHALL COLLEGE DIPLOMATS. At the midpoint of the game the Bullets led the Diplomats 42-22 and ultimately won by that same 20-point margin, 71-51. Jordan Stafford of Gettysburg College just missed a Double-Double with his 17 points and 9 rebounds.

CENTENNIAL CONFERENCE – In Game Two, the MUHLENBERG COLLEGE MULES did battle with the URSINUS COLLEGE BEARS. The Mules were on top of the bears 37-26 at Halftime, and after the break they remained comfortably ahead all the way to their 74-53 win. Giovanni Rubino led the Mules with THIRTY-FIVE points.