CROSSROADS LEAGUE TOURNAMENT
FIRST QUARTERFINAL – The number 1 seed – the GRACE COLLEGE LANCERS – took on the 8th seeded MT. VERNON NAZARENE UNIVERSITY COUGARS. By Halftime the Lancers were up 45-36, and after the break they left the Cougars further and further behind. In the end, Grace College won the game 83-64 led by Ian Scott with 23 points.
SECOND QUARTERFINAL – Up next the 2nd seeded BETHEL (IN) PILOTS (Riverboat Pilots) played the 7 seeds – the TAYLOR UNIVERSITY TROJANS. The Pilots got more of a fight than expected from Taylor U. and led them by just 39-35 at the Half. From there Bethel University squeezed out some more distance from the Trojans in their 77-69 victory. Trent Edwards tossed in 22 points to lead the Pilots.
THIRD QUARTERFINAL – This game pitted the 3 seeds – the HUNTINGTON UNIVERSITY FORESTERS – against the 6th seeded UNIVERSITY OF ST. FRANCIS (IN) COUGARS. The Foresters eviscerated the Cougars in the 1st Half, leading them 51-29 by the midpoint. After the break, USF mounted a bit of a comeback but still fell short as Huntington triumphed 95-83. Luke Almodovar led the Foresters with 26 points.
FOURTH QUARTERFINAL – The 5th seeded INDIANA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY WILDCATS faced the 4 seeds – the SPRING ARBOR UNIVERSITY COUGARS. In addition to being the only Upset in this round, it was also the Marathon Game of the Night. Regulation ended in a 72-72 tie. The 1st OT ended in an 83-83 deadlock and the 2nd tied up 87-87 before the Wildcats won 96-95 in the 3rd. FORTY-THREE points from Luke Brown led Indiana Wesleyan.
CHICAGOLAND COLLEGIATE ATHLETIC CONFERENCE
QUARTERFINAL ONE – In this Conference Tournament only this game was NOT an Upset. The number 1 seeds – the UNIVERSITY OF ST. FRANCIS (IL) FIGHTING SAINTS – played the 8th seeded ST. AMBROSE UNIVERSITY FIGHTING BEES. The Fighting Bees led 29-27 at Halftime but the Fighting Saints came roaring back from there to win the game 65-59. Aitor Anibartite led USF with a Double Double of 19 points and 11 rebounds.
QUARTERFINAL TWO – The 7th seeded GOVERNORS STATE JAGUARS did battle with the 2 seeds – the INDIANA UNIVERSITY NORTHWEST REDHAWKS. IU-Northwest was up 53-47 by the Half, but the Jaguars knotted things up at 93-93 to end Regulation. In Overtime GSU won out 104-101. Twenty-eight points from Javon Johnson led the Jaguars.
QUARTERFINAL THREE – The 6 seeds – the CALUMET COLLEGE CRIMSON WAVE – faced the 3rd seeded ST. XAVIER UNIVERSITY COUGARS. The Crimson Wave put SXU on Upset Alert at Halftime with their 39-29 advantage. After the break the Cougars rallied but fell short as Calumet College defeated them 73-70. Scott Gowan and Hrovje Majcunic led the victors with 15 points each.
QUARTERFINAL FOUR – In this Five over Four clash, the (5) OLIVET NAZARENE UNIVERSITY TIGERS (should be Purple Tigers) took on the (4) INDIANA UNIVERSITY AT SOUTH BEND TITANS. The opening Half ended in a 41-41 tie between these familiar opponents. ONU edged South Bend by a final score of 75-73 led by 23 points from Eli Edwards.
THE SUN CONFERENCE
ROUND ONE: GAME ONE – The 4th seeded SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY FIRE squared off against the 5 seeds – the NEW COLLEGE OF FLORIDA MIGHTY BANYANS. This was a tale of 2 Halves as the Fire seemed well in charge by the midpoint with a 46-28 advantage. From there the Mighty Banyans nearly forced Overtime but Southeastern U. held on to win 82-80. Derek Murphy tossed in 21 points to lead the Fire.
ROUND ONE: GAME TWO – This game saw the 3 seeds – the FLORIDA MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY LIONS – play the 6th seeded ST. THOMAS UNIVERSITY BOBCATS (should be Tomcats). The Bobcats were on top 39-35 come Halftime, but after the break the Lions came from behind for a tight 67-65 victory. Mohamad Diallo’s 14 points led FMU.
HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES
FIRST ROUND: GAME ONE – The East’s 2nd seeded TALLADEGA COLLEGE TORNADOES took on the East’s 7 seeds – the OAKWOOD (AL) AMBASSADORS. A defense-heavy 1st Half ended with the Tornadoes up 28-25, but from there Talladega College pulled away from the Ambassadors to win the game 71-59. Lamont Sams led the Tornadoes with a Double Double of 22 points and 12 rebounds.
FIRST ROUND: GAME TWO – This game pitted the West’s 3 seeds – the PHILANDER SMITH COLLEGE PANTHERS – against the 6th seeded VOORHEES UNIVERSITY TIGERS. The Tigers were clinging to a 30-29 edge at Halftime, but the Panthers were all business after the break. Philander Smith College won 73-53 led by 23 points from Raymond Reece.
WOLVERINE-HOOSIER ATHLETIC CONFERENCE
ROUND ONE: GAME ONE – The 7th seeded UNIVERSITY OF NORTHWESTERN OHIO RACERS played the 10 seeds – the UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT DEARBORN WOLVERINES. At the Half UMD were up by a mere 37-36. The Racers came out of the locker room on fire and seized an 86-74 triumph. Northwestern Ohio was led by Alex Benson and Caleb Chapman with 14 points each, while fellow Racer Malachi Black logged a Double Double of 13 points and 11 rebounds.
ROUND ONE: GAME TWO – Closing things out was this battle between the 8 seeds – the AQUINAS COLLEGE SAINTS – and the 9th seeded CLEARY UNIVERSITY PROWLING COUGARS. Cleary U. led 44-38 at Halftime, but the Saints rallied to defeat the Prowling Cougars 74-66. Devon Boyd’s 23 points led Aquinas while his teammate Caden Pokorzynski had a Double Double of 11 points and 13 rebounds.
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