BALLADEER’S BLOG’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL NATIONAL TOURNAMENT RESULTS: MARCH 16th

NAIA

FINAL FOUR: FIRST BERTH – The COLLEGE OF IDAHO COYOTES clashed with the TOUGALOO COLLEGE BULLDOGS in this game.

By Halftime the Coyotes were comfortably on top by a score of 43-23, then coasted to an 83-66 triumph over the Bulldogs. The College of Idaho’s Jake O’Neil led his team with 20 points.

FINAL FOUR: SECOND BERTH – Up next the INDIANA TECH WARRIORS (should be the Hoplites) played the ARIZONA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY FIRESTORM.

The Warriors were clinging to a slender 35-34 edge at the Half, following which they managed to squeeze out a little bit more separation from the Firestorm to win the game 67-64. Twenty points from Blake Davison led Indiana Tech to victory.

FINAL FOUR: THIRD BERTH – This game pitted the OTTAWA UNIVERSITY (AZ) SPIRIT against the MONTANA TECH OREDIGGERS.

It was a tale of two Halves, as the Spirit held a mere 30-29 lead over the Orediggers at the midpoint. After the break, Ottawa University exploded offensively, ultimately hammering Montana Tech to the tune of 76-58. Twenty points was yet again the tally for the leading scorer – in this case the Spirit’s Josiah De’laCerda.

FINAL FOUR: LAST BERTH – Finishing out the NAIA Final Four of 2023 was the winner between the GEORGETOWN (KY) COLLEGE TIGERS and the GRACE COLLEGE LANCERS.

Both offenses were clicking, as the Tigers were on top 45-43 come Halftime, following which points continued to fly like shrapnel. The final score was Georgetown College 92  Lancers 85. Jake Ohmer tossed in THIRTY-THREE points to lead the Tigers, while his teammate Kyran Jones notched a Double Double of 24 points and 12 rebounds.

USCAA

DAY ONE: GAME ONE – The BLUEFIELD STATE BIG BLUES did battle with the PAUL QUINN COLLEGE TIGERS (should be the Purple Tigers).

The score in this hardcourt grudge match was knotted up at 42-42 by the Half. From there the Big Blues managed a bit of separation from Paul Quinn College for an 85-80 victory. Malike Tidwell had 19 points to lead Bluefield State.

DAY ONE: GAME TWO – The NEWPORT NEWS APPRENTICE SCHOOL BUILDERS (shipbuilders) faced the MISSISSIPPI UNIVERSITY FOR WOMEN (but it’s been co-ed for years now) OWLS.

The Builders were up 39-38 by Halftime. After the break, Newport News Apprentice School outscored the Owls 34-29 to win the game 73-67. Leading the Builders were Shawn Eley and Adrion Wall with 14 points each.

DAY ONE: GAME THREE – In this game the BRYANT & STRATTON (Buffalo) COLLEGE BOBCATS took the court against the ATLANTIS UNIVERSITY ATLANTEANS.

The Atlanteans were out in front at the Half by a score of 32-31, but from there the Bobcats came roaring back. In the end, BSC won out 73-64. Sam Dorissaint of the Bobcats led his team with 20 points.

DAY ONE: GAME FOUR – The GREAT BAY COLLEGE HERONS played the VILLA MARIA UNIVERSITY VIKINGS.

When Halftime rolled around, the Herons were chasing the Vikings 39-35, but Great Bay College came out of the locker room primed for a comeback. The Herons wound up winning by an authoritative 79-67 score. Kingsley Breen’s 27 points led GBC, and fellow Heron Theodore Wolf registered a Double Double of 16 points and 13 rebounds.

NCAA DIVISION TWO

ROUND THREE: GAME ONE – The LINCOLN MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY RAILSPLITTERS clashed with the UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA AT AIKEN PACERS.

The Railsplitters were on top of the Pacers 44-37 at the midpoint of the game, then kept USC-Aiken at arm’s length the rest of the way to win the game by a final count of 89-83. Chase Rankin led Lincoln Memorial University with his Double Double of 17 points and 10 rebounds.

ROUND THREE: GAME TWO – In this game the NOVA SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY SHARKS played the UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT HUNTSVILLE CHARGERS.

The Sharks took charge early, leading the Chargers 49-28 by Halftime. After the break Nova Southeastern kept up the pressure, smacking down UAH 87-62. THIRTY-THREE points from Will Yoakum of the Sharks led the way for the victors.

ROUND THREE: GAME THREE – Up next the UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT SAINT LOUIS TRITONS took on the MCKENDREE UNIVERSITY BEARCATS.

The Tritons saw their 34-28 advantage at the Half start fading away as they were forced to hold on against a Bearcats rally. The final score was UM-St. Louis 62  MU 60. Isaiah Fuller tossed in 27 points to lead the Tritons.

ROUND THREE: GAME FOUR – The WEST LIBERTY UNIVERSITY HILLTOPPERS did battle with the INDIANA UNIVERSITY IN PENNSYLVANIA CRIMSON HAWKS.

The Hilltoppers dominated on both sides of the ball, parlaying a 34-26 Halftime lead into a 70-53 triumph over the Crimson Hawks. West Liberty U’s Bryce Butler led the way for the Hilltoppers with THIRTY points.

ROUND THREE: GAME FIVE – This contest pitted the BLACK HILLS STATE YELLOW JACKETS against the WEST TEXAS A&M BUFFALOES.

In one of the biggest upsets of the round, the Yellow Jackets and Buffaloes were tied at the Half 32-32, followed by an incredibly tight 2nd Half. When the dust settled, Black Hills State won the game 68-67. The Yellow Jackets were led by Joel Scott, who logged a Double Double of 25 points and 14 rebounds. 

ROUND THREE: GAME SIX – Lastly, the UNIVERSITY OF NEW HAVEN CHARGERS took the court against the BENTLEY UNIVERSITY FALCONS. 

The Chargers were out in front 33-26 by the midpoint. After the break, UNH held off the Falcons for a 69-60 victory. Leading the Chargers in scoring for the game was Quashawn Lane with 19 points.