BALLADEER’S BLOG: MORE COLLEGE BASKETBALL POSTSEASON ACTION

APPALACHIAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE

FIRST SEMIFINAL – The 4th seeded JOHNSON UNIVERSITY ROYALS (formerly the Royal Crusaders) took on the 1 seeds – the UNIVERSITY OF PIKEVILLE BEARS. By Halftime the Royals were on top 35-26. After the break the University of Pikeville mounted a small rally but fell short as Johnson U. triumphed 78-73. Isaiah Poore led the victors with 29 points.

SECOND SEMIFINAL – In this game the 2 seeds – the MILLIGAN UNIVERSITY BUFFALOES – did battle with the 6th seeded MONTREAT COLLEGE CAVALIERS. The opening Half ended in a 37-29 advantage for the Buffaloes. From there Milligan left the Cavaliers further and further behind on their way to an 80-60 win. Twenty-two points from McCaskill Rivers led the Buffaloes. 

CROSSROADS LEAGUE

SEMIFINAL ONE – The 1 seeded GRACE COLLEGE LANCERS took the court against the 5 seeds – the INDIANA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY WILDCATS. Indiana Wesleyan had taken a 42-32 lead by the midpoint. The Lancers came alive after the break and forced Overtime with a 73-73 tie. In the extra session Grace College won the game 89-82 led by Ian Scott’s Double Double of 19 points and 10 rebounds.

SEMIFINAL TWO – Up next the 3 seeds – the HUNTINGTON UNIVERSITY FORESTERS – battled the 2nd seeded BETHEL (IN) PILOTS (Riverboat Pilots). Come Halftime the Foresters were clinging to a mere 40-39 edge over the Pilots. From there Huntington University got more separation from Bethel in a 75-65 victory. Lane Sparks led the Foresters with 20 points while his teammate Landen Jordan logged a Double Double of 13 points and 15 rebounds.

SOUTHERN STATES ATHLETIC CONFERENCE

FIRST SEMIFINAL – The East’s 3rd seeded MIDDLE GEORGIA STATE KNIGHTS clashed with the East’s 1 seed – the DALTON STATE ROADRUNNERS. The Roadrunners were out in front 32-26 at the Half, but Middle Georgia State came out of the locker room ready for a comeback. In the end the Knights triumphed 77-66 led by Jamal Taylor’s 24 points, while Milique Smith had a Double Double of 12 points and 13 rebounds.

SECOND SEMIFINAL – This game pitted the East’s 2 seeds – the LIFE UNIVERSITY RUNNING EAGLES – against the West’s 1 seeded MOBILE UNIVERSITY RAMS. The Running Eagles spent the opening Half humiliating Mobile U. on both sides of the ball. Their Halftime lead of 52-20 ultimately became an easy 90-52 blowout by Life University. Chaze Harris led the winners with a Double Double of 26 points and 10 assists.

RIVER STATES CONFERENCE

SEMIFINAL ONE – The 4th seeded INDIANA UNIVERSITY SOUTHEAST GRENADIERS played the 1 seeds – the SHAWNEE STATE BEARS. The Bears were up 47-39 at the midpoint. From there the Grenadiers rallied to tie things up 84-84 to end Regulation. In Overtime IUS upset Shawnee State 95-92. Lane Lauderbaugh led the Grenadiers with his Double Double of FORTY points and 10 rebounds, while teammate Trent Hinkle added a Double Double of 11 points and 12 assists.

SEMIFINAL TWO – In this game the 3 seeds – the ST. MARY-OF-THE-WOODS COLLEGE POMEROYS – took on the 7th seeded BRESCIA UNIVERSITY BEARCATS. The Pomeroys held a 47-35 lead at Halftime and left the Bearcats further and further behind after the break, crushing them  93-57. Twenty-eight points from DaMeriz Merriweather led SMWoods College and fellow Pomeroy Shon Tupuola notched a Double Double of 18 points and 12 rebounds.

KANSAS COLLEGIATE ATHLETIC CONFERENCE

FIRST SEMIFINAL – The 4th seeded BETHEL (KS) THRESHERS fought it out with the 1 seeds – the OKLAHOMA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY EAGLES. The Threshers put Oklahoma Wesleyan on Upset Alert at the Half with their 32-24 advantage. From there Bethel College held on to consummate that Upset 67-64. Eli Wiseman tossed in 14 points to lead the Threshers.   

SECOND SEMIFINAL – The 3 seeds – the UNIVERSITY OF ST. MARY SPIRES – played the 2nd seeded FRIENDS UNIVERSITY FALCONS. Another Upset was in the offing in this Semifinal as Halftime found the Spires on top by a score of 37-26. After the break the Falcons fell behind even more as USM triumphed 69 -52. Tre Alexander and Jordan Brown led USM with 20 points each, with fellow Spire Jason Parson II logging a Double Double of 10 points and 12 rebounds.

GREAT SOUTHWEST ATHLETIC CONFERENCE

SEMIFINAL ONE – This game saw the 2nd seeded ARIZONA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY FIRESTORM face the 3 seeds – the HOPE INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY ROYALS. By the Half the Firestorm were outclassing Hope International and held a 31-25 lead. From there Arizona Christian University managed a bit more separation from the Royals for a 69-60 win. The Firestorm were led by 18 points from Anthony Howell.   

SEMIFINAL TWO – The top seeds – the MASTER’S UNIVERSITY MUSTANGS – tangled with the 4th seeded EMBRY-RIDDLE AERONAUTICAL UNIVERSITY EAGLES (should be the Aeronauts). Both offenses were in gear and the midpoint of the game found the Mustangs up 41-38. The Master’s University held on tight in an 87-85 thriller. Kaleb Lowery led the victors with a Double Double of THIRTY-ONE points and 16 rebounds.