NATIONAL CHRISTIAN COLLEGE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION DIVISION TWO
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – This title tilt pitted the 5th seeded NORTH CENTRAL UNIVERSITY RAMS against the 6 seeds – the CROWN COLLEGE POLARS. The Rams went on top early and led 40-25 by Halftime. After the break, they got even more separation from the Polars, ultimately winning the game 76-51. Carmello McNeal led North Central U. with 23 points.
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS
ROUND TWO: GAME ONE – The AVE MARIA UNIVERSITY GYRENES did battle with the FRIENDS UNIVERSITY FALCONS. A shootout was in store with Friends University on top 64-59 at the Half. From there, the Gyrenes made their move, overtaking the Falcons and winning the game by a Century Club score of 108-102. Jaylen White and Jack Watkins led Ave Maria with 21 points each.
ROUND TWO: GAME TWO – Up next the HOPE INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY ROYALS played the KEISER UNIVERSITY SEAHAWKS. At the midpoint Keiser University clung to a 37-36 edge, following which the Royals came back. In the end, Hope International University triumphed by a final tally of 79-76 led by Nick Hopkins and Aman Haynes, both of whom tossed in 20 points.
ROUND TWO: GAME THREE – The GRACE COLLEGE LANCERS took the court against the SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY FIRE. The Lancers dominated this game, leading Southeastern U. 50-32 by Halftime. After the break, Grace College kept the Fire at arm’s length to win the game 91-75. Gage Sefton led the Lancers with his Double Double of 19 points and 10 rebounds.
ROUND TWO: GAME FOUR – The LOUISIANA STATE AT SHREVEPORT PILOTS (Riverboat Pilots) faced the TEXAS WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY RAMS. This was a tale of two Halves, as the Pilots were up 42-24 at the midpoint, but then had to hold on tight for a 70-66 victory. A Double Double of 23 points and 11 rebounds from Khi Wallace led LSU-Shreveport.
ROUND TWO: GAME FIVE – In this hardcourt clash the ARIZONA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY FIRESTORM played the WAYLAND BAPTIST UNIVERSITY PIONEERS (should be Flying Ws). Come Halftime the Firestorm led 43-30 but from there Wayland Baptist closed the gap a little bit as ACU triumphed 91-82. Shaud Bradley led the Firestorm with 19 points, while his teammate Jay Lee notched a Double Double of 11 points and 13 rebounds.
ROUND TWO: GAME SIX – The NORTHWESTERN (IA) COLLEGE RED RAIDERS were up against the COLLEGE OF IDAHO COYOTES. The Red Raiders folded, spindled and mutilated the College of Idaho in the opening Half, leading 50-23. After that, Northwestern College coasted to an 80-62 victory led by Jesse Van Kalsbeek with 29 points.
ROUND TWO: GAME SEVEN – Up next the UNIVERSITY OF THE CUMBERLANDS PATRIOTS faced the WILLIAM CAREY UNIVERSITY CRUSADERS. No surprises here as the Patriots took a 43-25 advantage into the locker room, then carried through by eviscerating William Carey University 95-68. THIRTY-ONE points from Brant Smithers led UC, while Kyle Duke and Anthony Harris had Double Doubles of 24 points & 12 rebounds, and 11 points & 10 rebounds, respectively.
ROUND TWO: GAME EIGHT – A one-point wonder was in store next from the ROCKY MOUNTAIN COLLEGE BATTLIN’ BEARS and THE MASTER’S UNIVERSITY MUSTANGS. The Battlin’ Bears watched their 40-29 Halftime lead melt away as they barely held off TMU for a 67-66 triumph. Omari Nesbit led Rocky Mountain College with 25 points.
ROUND TWO: GAME NINE – The BENEDICTINE UNIVERSITY AT MESA REDHAWKS took on the NELSON UNIVERSITY LIONS. Despite their 57-37 advantage at the Half, the Redhawks nearly blew it. The Lions rallied but fell short as BU-Mesa outlasted them 99-94. Damian Zivak tossed in THIRTY points as he led the Redhawks to the win.
ROUND TWO: GAME TEN – This game pitted the FREED-HARDEMAN UNIVERSITY LIONS against the BETHEL (KS) COLLEGE THRESHERS. The Lions fumbled their 41-28 midpoint lead over the Threshers away and into a much tighter 80-72 final tally when all was said and done. Phil Horton’s THIRTY-FOUR points led the way for Freed-Hardeman University.
ROUND TWO: GAME ELEVEN – The BELLEVUE UNIVERSITY BRUINS had a surprise in store for the GRACELAND UNIVERSITY YELLOWJACKETS in this game. The Bruins held a 42-41 edge at Halftime, then consummated the Upset of Graceland U. 95-88 from there. Jaden Philips led Bellevue with 22 points, while fellow Bruin R.J. Smith logged a Double Double of 21 points and 11 rebounds.
ROUND TWO: GAME TWELVE – A blowout was in store between the LANGSTON UNIVERSITY LIONS (should be the Hugheses) and their prey the EASTERN OREGON UNIVERSITY MOUNTAINEERS. The Lions were up 35-25 at the midpoint of the game. After the break, Langston University polished off the Mountaineers 86-59. Leading the Lions was Orlando Thomas with his 23 points.
ROUND TWO: GAME THIRTEEN – The INDIANA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY WILDCATS squared off against the DALTON STATE ROADRUNNERS. Come Halftime the Wildcats were out in front of Dalton State 38-33. From there Indiana Wesleyan left the Roadrunners further and further behind as they spanked them 89-70. Twenty-two points from Qualen Pettus led the Wildcats.
ROUND TWO: GAME FOURTEEN – A battle between the GEORGETOWN (KY) COLLEGE TIGERS and the BETHEL (IN) PILOTS (Riverboat Pilots) came next. A 38-37 Pilots edge at the Half ultimately morphed into an 85-68 win for Georgetown College. The triumvirate of Isaiah Mason, Darien Lewis and Bubba Leavall led the Tigers with 17 points each. Mason made his a Double Double with 10 rebounds as well.
ROUND TWO: GAME FIFTEEN – The OKLAHOMA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY EAGLES took the court against the MONTANA TECH OREDIGGERS. The Eagles bludgeoned Montana Tech on both sides of the ball, leading them 29-13 at the break. From there Oklahoma Wesleyan kept the Orediggers down on their way to a 67-46 victory. Humberto Kentish, Jr. led the Eagles with 13 points.
ROUND TWO: GAME SIXTEEN – And finally, the FAULKNER UNIVERSITY EAGLES (should be the Fury) faced the COLUMBIA (MO) COLLEGE COUGARS. Faulkner University built up a 43-30 advantage going into the locker room. In the 2nd Half, the Eagles stayed just enough ahead of the Cougars to win the game 75-67. Twenty-one points from Gideon Harris led Faulkner, while his teammate Tanner Vogel got a Double Double of 13 points and 15 rebounds.
Balladeer's Blog 
Wonderful post. I don’t normally take any interest in national tournaments but as always found your posts engaging to read.
Thank you, I appreciate it!
Having gotten my undergraduate degree from TAMU (and always having been a back-row Baptist), I wasn’t even aware that there was a Christian College conference. Then again, while in college, I kept my nose in the books and hardly kept up with their athletics.
I understand. Very few people have heard of the NCCAA or the USCAA.
Oona: “Look at all the cat-themed teams. Oona approves!”
Glad to hear it, Oona!