The college basketball postseason for 2023 has tipped off in the divisions covered here at Balladeer’s Blog.
NAIA CONFERENCE TOURNAMENTS
NORTH STAR ATHLETIC CONFERENCE – It was all chalk in the opening round of the NSAC Tournament. The top-seeded MAYVILLE STATE COMETS swatted the (8) PRESENTATION COLLEGE SAINTS 91-63 ### Meanwhile, the 4 seeds – the VALLEY CITY STATE VIKINGS – eliminated the (5) BELLEVUE (NE) BRUINS 72-54 ### And the (3) DICKINSON STATE BLUE HAWKS won 72-60 over the (6) DAKOTA STATE TROJANS. Continue reading
EASY AS ONE, TWO, THREE – The number 1 team in the nation – the UNIVERSITY OF SAINT JOSEPH (CT) BLUEJAYS – hammered the DEAN COLLEGE BULLDOGS 87-60 ### Meanwhile, the 2nd ranked RANDOLPH MACON COLLEGE YELLOW JACKETS defeated the ROANOKE COLLEGE MAROONS 69-50 ### And the number 3 CHRISTOPHER NEWPORT UNIVERSITY CAPTAINS won 85-73 at the SALISBURY UNIVERSITY SEA GULLS. 
CLOSE CALL FOR NUMBER SIX – The (6) JOHN CARROLL UNIVERSITY BLUE STREAKS took it on the road against the OHIO NORTHERN UNIVERSITY POLAR BEARS. At Halftime the Polar Bears were on top 44-36 but the Blue Streaks roared back to force Overtime with a 77-77 tie to end Regulation. In the extra session John Carroll University managed a 95-89 victory. Luke Chicone’s Double-Double of 19 points and 10 rebounds led the Blue Streaks. 
NUMBER TWO STILL UNBEATEN – The number 2 team in the nation – the NOVA SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY SHARKS – improved to 21-0 for the season in their game against the PALM BEACH ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY SAILFISH. The Sharks were comfortably on top 55-35 by Halftime, then coasted to a 96-66 triumph. Kobe Rodgers and Will Yoakum logged 20 points each to lead NSU. 
CENTURY CLUB – Teams scoring 100 points or more in Regulation: The LEE UNIVERSITY FLAMES won 101-90 at the AUBURN UNIVERSITY AT MONTGOMERY WARHAWKS ### Meanwhile, the CALIFORNIA (PA) VULCANS defeated their hosts the EDINBORO U. FIGHTING SCOTS 106-97 ### And the BELMONT-ABBEY COLLEGE CRUSADERS routed the FRANCIS MARION UNIVERSITY PATRIOTS 107-68. 
TUSSLE IN THE TOP SIX – The number 1 team in the nation – the GRACE COLLEGE LANCERS – took it on the road against the 6th ranked INDIANA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY WILDCATS. By Halftime the Wildcats had built up a 42-32 advantage, but the Lancers came out of the locker room primed for a comeback. They outscored their opponents 60-36 for a 92-78 victory. Elijah Malone’s 29 points led Grace College. 
NUMBER THREE TAKES A FALL – In this game the HUNTINGTON UNIVERSITY FORESTERS welcomed the 3rd ranked BETHEL UNIVERSITY (IN) PILOTS (Riverboat Pilots). The Foresters were on top 42-31 at the Half, then squeezed out a bit more separation after the break to win the game 88-74. Lane Sparks led Huntington University with his 23 points. 
KNOCKING OFF NUMBER ONE – The TALLAHASSSEE COLLEGE EAGLES (should be the Laddies) hosted the number 1 team in the nation – the CHIPOLA COLLEGE INDIANS. At Halftime the score was knotted up at 24-24 but after the break the Eagles made their move, ultimately toppling the Indians 62-54. Tallahassee’s Addison Patterson led the victors with 13 points. 
CENTURY CLUB – Teams notching 100 or more points in Regulation: The ARIZONA WESTERN COLLEGE MATADORS downed the PHOENIX COLLEGE BEARS 109-80 ### Meanwhile, the LEE COLLEGE REBELS won 111-78 at the JACKSONVILLE COLLEGE JAGUARS ### And the INDIAN RIVER STATE PIONEERS routed their hosts the STATE COLLEGE OF FLORIDA MANATEES 103-69. 
ONE HUNDRED FORTY-FIVE – Both teams made the Century Club in this game between the BLUEFIELD STATE BIG BLUES and their guests the JOHNSON & WALES UNIVERSITY (NC) WILDCATS. Defense was not an option, apparently, as the Big Blues led by the unbelievable score of 82-46 at Halftime before going on to win the game 145-106. Malik Lacewell led Bluefield State with 25 points, Malik Tidwell logged 20 points and Khamaury McMillan registered a Double-Double of 12 points and 10 rebounds. 
INSTANT CLASSIC – The MIDATLANTIC CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY MUSTANGS took the court against the VIRGINIA PENINSULA COLLEGE GATORS. At the Half the Mustangs were clinging to a tight 32-30 edge. After the break MACU kept the Gators at arm’s length the rest of the way enroute to a 70-68 victory. Noah Richardson-Keys led the victors with 22 points. 
DOWN GOES NUMBER ONE – In this game the VANGUARD UNIVERSITY LIONS welcomed the number 1 team in the nation – the ARIZONA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY FIRESTORM. Though the Firestorm were on top 43-39 come Halftime, after the break the Lions roared from behind to win the game 84-76. Garrett White led VU with his Double-Double of 24 points and 10 rebounds. 
CENTURY CLUB – Teams who scored 100 points or more in Regulation: the JOHNSON UNIVERSITY (TN) ROYALS won 111-82 against the ST. ANDREWS UNIVERSITY KNIGHTS ### The TEXAS A&M AT TEXARKANA EAGLES (should be the Texarks) downed the OUR LADY OF THE LAKE UNIVERSITY SAINTS 110-95 ### And the MAYVILLE STATE COMETS won 101-82 at the VITERBO UNIVERSITY V-HAWKS. 
BREWING A BLOWOUT – The BREWTON-PARKER COLLEGE BARONS played host to the VOORHEES UNIVERSITY TIGERS. The Barons had utterly humiliated the Tigers by the Half with a 38-11 lead, and from there they coasted to a 76-42 triumph. Lance Smith logged a Double-Double of 24 points and 10 rebounds to lead Brewton-Parker College. 
NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) 
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The last two teams standing in this tournament were the Cinderella 10 seeds – the NORTHWEST FLORIDA STATE RAIDERS – and the top seeded SALT LAKE CITY COLLEGE BRUINS. 
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The NORTHWEST MISSOURI STATE BEARCATS battled the AUGUSTA UNIVERSITY JAGUARS for the D2 title. 
WORKIN’ OVERTIME – In this game from the NJCAA National Tournament the HUTCHINSON COLLEGE BLUE DRAGONS went up against the CONNORS STATE COWBOYS. 
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