*** NAIA ***
DAY ONE – GAME ONE – This Region’s 4 seeds – the MID-AMERICA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY EVANGELS – played the 5th seeded PARK UNIVERSITY PIRATES. It would be tough to beat this game for tip-off to final buzzer intensity. The game was tied 13 times and the lead was exchanged 8 times as the Evangels eked out a 42-40 lead at Halftime and then went on to win by a final score of 88-86. Bryon Miller led Mid-America Christian in scoring with 26 points.
DAY ONE – GAME TWO – The TALLADEGA COLLEGE TORNADOES came in as the 2 seed and faced the 7th seeded WESTMONT COLLEGE WARRIORS. The Tornadoes got almost more than they could handle from the Warriors, who actually led Talladega College 33-31 at the break. In the 2nd Half the Tornadoes came from behind for a tight 63-61 victory led by Nigel Jones’ Double- Double of 20 points and 11 rebounds. Continue reading
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The lone remaining 2 seeds – the INDIANA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY WILDCATS – fought for the championship against the lone remaining 1 seeds – the UNIVERSITY OF SAINT FRANCIS (IN) COUGARS. Yes, it was an all Crossroads League title tilt as these two familiar foes fought it out. The Wildcats held a 32-26 lead at Halftime but had to hold off a furious 2nd Half rally by the Cougars for a 69-66 triumph! Bob Peters tossed in 20 points to lead Indiana Wesleyan to its second title in three years. * THE WILDCATS ARE CHAMPIONS OF NAIA DIVISION TWO * 
FINAL FOUR: FIRST SEMIFINAL – This was a tale of two Halves as the 2 seeds – the INDIANA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY WILDCATS – took on their Region’s 1 seeds – the DAVENPORT UNIVERSITY PANTHERS. 
ROUND TWO RESUMES – Yesterday the 2nd Round continued in D2. The 4th seeded STONEHILL COLLEGE SKYHAWKS did battle with their Region’s 8 seeds – the SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE UNIVERSITY PENMEN. The Penmen stunned the Skyhawks out of the gate and by Halftime had built up a 37-21 lead. Stonehill College came fighting back in the 2nd Half and forced Overtime with a 65-65 tie to end Regulation. In the extra session the Skyhawks won it by a tight score of 75-74. Adam Bramanti led Stonehill with 21 points. 
RAILSPLITTERS ADVANCE – The LINCOLN MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY RAILSPLITTERS – the 1 seeds in their Region – took the court against the 4th seeded QUEENS UNIVERSITY OF CHARLOTTE ROYALS. The Railsplitters notched a 43-31 advantage over the Royals by the break. From there Lincoln Memorial University proceeded to blow out Queens U of Charlotte to the tune of 95-67. Gerel Simmons contributed 25 points to lead the Railsplitters in scoring. 
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The top seeded HILLSDALE FREE WILL BAPTIST COLLEGE SAINTS did battle with the 3 seeds – the GRACE BIBLE COLLEGE TIGERS – for the NCCAA title. The 1st Half ended with the Saints holding a 43-35 lead but the Tigers came roaring back to force Overtime through a 77-77 tie to end Regulation. In the extra session Hillsdale thoroughly outperformed Grace and won the game 97-84. Trey Sneed led the Saints with 27 points and 9 rebounds and his teammate Antonio Wilson contributed 26 points of his own. * THE SAINTS ARE NCCAA2 CHAMPIONS * 
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The top two seeds in this Tournament faced each other for the 2016 Championship. The 1 seeds – the ROCK VALLEY COLLEGE GOLDEN EAGLES – managed a slender 41-39 Halftime lead over the 2nd seeded ROCHESTER TECHNICAL COLLEGE YELLOW JACKETS. After the break the Golden Eagles steadily put more distance between themselves and the Yellow Jackets, ultimately winning by a score of 88-75. Rock Valley College was led to their second title in three years by L.T. Davis with 25 points. * THE GOLDEN EAGLES ARE NJCAA3 CHAMPIONS * 
ELITE EIGHT – FIRST BERTH – There was a mild upset in this game as the 7 seeds – the INDIANA UNIVERSITY- EAST RED WOLVES surprised the 6th seeded VALLEY CITY STATE VIKINGS. By Halftime the Red Wolves had Vikings fans nervous as they held a 41-35 advantage. After the break IU-East slowly but surely managed a bit more separation and ultimately defeated Valley City State 81-69. Vasha Davis led the Red Wolves with his 19 points. 
DAY TWO – GAME ONE – A one seed fell in this game that was the shocker of the day yesterday! The 8th seeded YORK (NE) COLLEGE PANTHERS took on the top seeded UNIVERSITY OF SAINT FRANCIS (IL) FIGHTING SAINTS and put them on Upset Alert with a 42-42 Halftime tie. After the break the Panthers went on to win this game for the ages by a final score of 87-79. Cameron Coleman led York College with 22 points. 
DAY TWO – GAME TWO – The 3 seeds – the NORTHWEST CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY BEACONS – faced the 6th seeded SOUTHWESTERN COLLEGE MOUNDBUILDERS. The Beacons methodically established dominance in the game, compiling a 35-28 advantage by the break and following up on that in the 2nd Half for an 84-69 victory. The Beacons were led by Austin Kuemper with 22 points. 
DAY ONE – GAME ONE – The 7 seeds – the CALIFORNIA MARITIME ACADEMY KEELHAULERS – took the court against the 2nd seeded UNION (KY) BULLDOGS. The Keelhaulers were trailing the Bulldogs 39-37 at Halftime but after the break they took control of the game, outscoring Union 44-31 for an 81-70 upset. Zach Davis tossed in 24 points to lead Cal Maritime. 
AMERICAN MIDWEST CONFERENCE – CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The 2nd seeded COLUMBIA (MO) COUGARS had their hands full in this title game with the 5 seeds – the WILLIAM WOODS UNIVERSITY OWLS. After a Battle Royal the Cougars managed to eke out a 77-74 victory. Along the way Columbia also eliminated Harris- Stowe State and Park University. * THE COUGARS ARE AMC TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS * 
GULF COAST ATHLETIC CONFERENCE – CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – With the top seed in this conference tournament eliminated this game saw the 2nd seeded DILLARD UNIVERSITY BLEU (sic) DEVILS take on the 4 seeds – the XAVIER (LA) UNIVERSITY GOLD RUSH. In the end the Bleu Devils punched their ticket to the National Tournament by defeating the Gold Rush 84-71. * THE BLEU DEVILS ARE CHAMPIONS OF THE GCAC TOURNAMENT * 
Balladeer's Blog 