BALLADEER’S BLOG: NAIA, NCCAA AND NCAA DIV TWO BASKETBALL TOURNAMENTS

NCCAA (National Christian College Athletic Association) DIVISION ONE

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The 2nd seeded WARRIORS from NELSON UNIVERSITY AT ARIZONA (formerly Nelson American Indian College) fought it out with the top seeds – the COLUMBIA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY RAMS. Come Halftime things were knotted up at 43-43, but after the break the Warriors asserted themselves, pulling away from CIU for an 89-74 triumph. Harley Upton’s 24 points led NU-Arizona, while teammate Rob Jenkins logged a Double Double of 20 points & 11 rebounds.

NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics)

FAB FOUR: FIRST BERTH – In this game the ARIZONA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY FIRESTORM took the court against the GRACE COLLEGE LANCERS in what may have been the game of the day. Stellar defense put the Firestorm on top 32-27 at the Half, but from there they had to hang on tight against the Lancers. ACU won out 73-71. Fifteen points from Lorenzo Wright led the Firestorm. 

FAB FOUR: SECOND BERTH – The COLLEGE OF IDAHO COYOTES clashed with the GEORGETOWN (KY) COLLEGE TIGERS. The Coyotes eventually managed a 41-37 edge over Georgetown College by the midpoint of the game. After the break the College of Idaho got more and more separation from the Tigers on their way to an 83-71 victory. Samaje Morgan tossed in 21 points to lead the Yotes, and teammate Drew Wyman had a Double Double of 19 points & 10 rebounds. 

FAB FOUR: THIRD BERTH – This game pitted the FREED-HARDEMAN UNIVERSITY LIONS against the SOUTHERN OREGON UNIVERSITY RAIDERS (should be the Sea Gulls). The opening Half was a defensive clinic that ended with the Lions up just 27-23. From there the offenses got rolling but FHU dominated to win the game 69-56. The Lions were led by Peyton Law with his Double Double of 25 points & 11 rebounds. 

FAB FOUR: FINAL BERTH – Playing for this final berth were the OKLAHOMA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY EAGLES and the LSU-ALEXANDRIA GENERALS. The Eagles put the Generals on Upset Alert at Halftime with their 45-32 advantage, then carried through to win this hardcourt clash by a final score of 98-87. Oklahoma Wesleyan’s Jaden Lietzke led his team with a Double Double of THIRTY-ONE points & 13 rebounds, while fellow Eagle Nick Bene got a Double Double of 15 points & 16 rebounds.   

NCAA DIVISION TWO

ELITE EIGHT: BERTH ONE – The NOVA SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY SHARKS collided with the UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT HUNTSVILLE CHARGERS. By Halftime the Sharks were out in front 40-35 and from there Nova Southeastern eked out just a bit more separation from the Chargers in their 76-69 win. Ryker Cisarik’s 21 points led the Sharks, while teammate Mj Iraldi notched a Double Double of 19 points & 10 rebounds.   

ELITE EIGHT: BERTH TWO – Up next the WASHBURN UNIVERSITY ICHABODS took the court against the MINNESOTA STATE AT MOORHEAD DRAGONS. The Ichabods, propelled by offbeat nickname power, led MSU-Moorhead 47-41 at the Half. After the break, Washburn U. floored it, scorching the Dragons by a final score of 93-65. Brayden Shorter put up 21 points to lead the Ichabods, and his teammate Jack Bachelor got a Double Double of 16 points & 10 assists. 

ELITE EIGHT: BERTH THREE – The WEST LIBERTY UNIVERSITY HILLTOPPERS played the GANNON UNIVERSITY GOLDEN KNIGHTS for this berth. This was a real shootout, and at the break the Hilltoppers held a 51-47 edge over GU. From there West Liberty left the Golden Knights further behind by a Century Club tally of 101-90. Twenty-seven points from Kyler D’Augustino led the Hilltoppers. 

ELITE EIGHT: BERTH FOUR – This game pitted the ASSUMPTION UNIVERSITY GREYHOUNDS against the ST. THOMAS AQUINAS COLLEGE SAINTS. The Greyhounds put St. Thomas Aquinas College on Upset Alert with their 52-40 Halftime lead. After the break, Assumption University withstood a mild Saints rally to consummate the Upset 97-90. A Double Double of 17 points & 10 rebounds from Daouda Dembele led the Greyhounds. 

ELITE EIGHT: BERTH FIVE – The CAL STATE AT DOMINGUEZ HILLS TOROS did battle with the POINT LOMA NAZARENE UNIVERSITY SEA LIONS. Another Upset was in the offing here as the Toros led the Sea Lions 33-27 at the Half, then went on to defeat them by a final score of 61-58. Adam Afifi led the way for CSU-Dominguez Hills by registering a Double Double of 23 points & 13 rebounds.

ELITE EIGHT: BERTH SIX – This game saw the LAKE SUPERIOR STATE LAKERS face the UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT ST. LOUIS TRITONS. A hard-fought opening Half ended with the Lakers clinging to a mere 33-31 edge over UMSL. From there Lake Superior State flexed their superiority by downing the Tritons 75-62. Tyson Edmondson led the Lakers with 23 points, while two of his teammates logged Double Doubles – Adam Harakow with 17 points & 10 rebounds and Kingsley Perkins with 10 points & 11 rebounds. 

ELITE EIGHT: BERTH SEVEN – The DALLAS BAPTIST UNIVERSITY PATRIOTS played the COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES OREDIGGERS. This was a lopsided affair as the Patriots were on top 55-39 at Halftime before clobbering the Orediggers by a final Century Club tally of 100-79. Twenty points from Cameron Kahn led Dallas Baptist University to victory. 

ELITE EIGHT: FINAL BERTH – Closing things out for this round was a game between the LENOIR-RHYNE UNIVERSITY BEARS and the UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT PEMBROKE BRAVES. The Bears seemed very truly in charge, holding a 37-24 advantage at the Half. The Braves rallied furiously from there, forcing Overtime with a 68-68 tie. LRU won 76-74 led by Conrad Luczynski with a Double Double of 19 points & 10 rebounds.