Balladeer’s Blog offers one last round of congratulations to the 2017 college basketball champions in the FOURTEEN divisions covered here.
NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) DIVISION ONE
National Champions – TEXAS WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY RAMS
Runners-Up – Life University Running Eagles
2016 Champions – Mid-America Christian University Evangels
NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) DIVISION TWO
National Champions – UNION COLLEGE BULLDOGS
Runners-Up – Cornerstone University Golden Eagles
2016 Champions – Indiana Wesleyan University Wildcats Continue reading
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – Both the CITY COLLEGE OF SAN FRANCISCO RAMS and their opponents, the SADDLEBACK COLLEGE GAUCHOS, came into the title game having suffered just ONE loss all through the regular season and the postseason! Naturally one of the teams would suffer their second loss in this game. 
FIRST SEMIFINAL – The SADDLEBACK COLLEGE GAUCHOS clashed with the FRESNO CITY COLLEGE RAMS in this game. The Gauchos’ weakness of occasional slow starts came back to haunt them again as they trailed the Rams 28-19 at Halftime. 
FINAL FOUR: FIRST BERTH – The NorCal 3 seeds – the FRESNO CITY COLLEGE RAMS – had a hardcourt rumble with the NorCal 7 seeds – the CONTRA COSTA COLLEGE COMETS. The Rams dominated early and led the Comets 63-44 by Halftime. After the break Contra Costa College inched closer and closer to Fresno City College but their attempted rally fell short. The Rams won by a Century Club score of 100-89 led by B.J. Shelton with 27 points. 
ELITE EIGHT: FIRST BERTH – The Brummel Dome was the site of another masterpiece of defensive basketball played by the top seeded SADDLEBACK COLLEGE GAUCHOS. Their opponents, the 9th seeded BAKERSFIELD COLLEGE RENEGADES, trailed them at Halftime by a barely believable score of 26-16. The Renegades stunned the Gauchos after the break by forcing Overtime with a 50-50 tie to end Regulation. In the extra session Saddleback College won the game 64-56. Breaon Brady led the Gauchos with 14 points and 9 rebounds. 
NOR-CAL REGION – THIRD ROUND – GAME ONE – In this game the 7 seeds – the CONTRA COSTA COLLEGE COMETS – took the court against the 2nd seeded FEATHER RIVER COLLEGE GOLDEN EAGLES. The Comets trailed the Golden Eagles at Halftime by a score of 47-44 but in the 2nd Half Contra Costa College outscored Feather River College SIXTY-TWO to THIRTY-SEVEN! The Comets won this upset by a Century Club score of 106-84 led by Jeremiah Alston with 25 points. 
DAY TWO OF ROUND TWO: SO-CAL – The 7 seeds – the ANTELOPE VALLEY COLLEGE MARAUDERS – took on the 10th seeded CITY COLLEGE OF SAN DIEGO KNIGHTS. Everything went the way of the Marauders in the 1st Half, and they built up a 42-31 advantage by the break. The Knights came out of the locker room on fire and Antelope Valley College had to hold on by their fingernails for an 87-83 victory. The Marauders were led by Cory Dollarhide with 19 points. 
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The two teams still standing in this tournament were the 2 seeds – the AUGUSTANA (SD) COLLEGE VIKINGS and the lone remaining 1 seed – the LINCOLN MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY RAILSPLITTERS. The Vikings put the Railsplitters in unfamiliar territory by being on top of them 43-38 at Halftime. After the break Augustana College inched further and further away from Lincoln Memorial University, ultimately winning the game by a score of 90-81. Daniel Jansen of the Vikings notched 25 points and 9 rebounds. * THE VIKINGS ARE NCAA DIVISION TWO CHAMPIONS * 
FIRST SEMIFINAL – The top seeded LINCOLN MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY RAILSPLITTERS squared off against the 4 seeds – the WEST LIBERTY STATE HILLTOPPERS. Points flew like shrapnel in this game, which the Railsplitters led 54-53 at Halftime. Following the break the Hilltoppers continued giving LMU a thorough challenge but in the end the Railsplitters triumphed by a Century Club level score of 103-102. Gerel Simmons put up THIRTY-FIVE points for the victors. 
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – You can’t get much more exciting than a game-winning shot in Overtime right at the buzzer. Malcolm Mann made that shot to bring its first National Championship to the 4th seeded MID-AMERICA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY EVANGELS! The Evangels triumphed over the top seeded GEORGETOWN (KY) COLLEGE TIGERS in a genuine hardcourt classic.
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