NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The 5 seeds – the SHAWNEE STATE BEARS – squared off against the 3rd seeded LEWIS-CLARK STATE WARRIORS (should be the Explorers) for the 2021 title in NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) basketball.
This was the 83rd national tournament in the history of the NAIA. Continue reading
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FIRST SEMIFINAL – The 5 seeds – the SHAWNEE STATE BEARS – clashed with the 9th seeded UNIVERSITY OF SAINT FRANCIS (IN) COUGARS.
At Halftime the two teams were knotted up at 40-40. After the break the Bears outscored the Cougars 42-37 for an 82-77 victory and a spot in the title game. Donovan Carlisle led Shawnee State with 19 points while his teammate James Jones managed a Double-Double of 17 points and 11 assists. Continue reading
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The Final Four teams were set in the NAIA as the Elite Eight clashed.
FINAL FOUR: FIRST BERTH – The 3 seeds – the LEWIS-CLARK STATE WARRIORS (should be the Explorers) – took the court against the 11th seeded LOYOLA UNIVERSITY (LA) WOLFPACK.
By Halftime the Warriors held a 33-30 edge over the Wolfpack. After the break Loyola University came back to knot things up at 66-66 to end Regulation. In Overtime Lewis-Clark State won out by a final tally of 75-70. Trystan Bradley led the victors with 18 points while his teammate Hodges Bailey logged a Double-Double of 12 points and 10 rebounds.
FINAL FOUR: SECOND BERTH – In this game the 7th seeded SOUTHWESTERN ASSEMBLIES OF GOD UNIVERSITY LIONS did battle with the Cinderella 15 seeds – the CARROLL COLLEGE FIGHTING SAINTS.
The Fighting Saints had the Lions faithful worried at the Half with their tight 37-35 lead. In the 2nd Half the Southwestern Assemblies of God University outscored their opponents 38-28 for a 73-65 triumph and a spot in the Final Four. Leading the Lions was Joel Polius with his Double-Double of 27 points and 10 rebounds. Continue reading
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DAY TWO: GAME ONE – The (11) LOYOLA UNIVERSITY (LA) WOLFPACK served up another big-time Upset against the (6) MARIAN UNIVERSITY KNIGHTS.
The Wolfpack utterly humiliated the Knights with smothering defense in the opening Half, leading them 36-19 at the midpoint. From there Marian University could not dig itself out of the hole it was in, and their furious rally attempt was stopped short by Loyola. The final score was Wolfpack 69 Knights 62. Zach Wrightsil led the victors with 19 points. Continue reading
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DAY ONE: GAME ONE – The (16) BETHEL (IN) PILOTS (Riverboat Pilots) provided the shock of the day in their game against the (1) INDIANA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY WILDCATS.
The Wildcats were on top 44-39 at Halftime but the Pilots came out of the locker room ready for a comeback. Bethel University outscored their opponents 44-33 in the 2nd Half, thus managing an 83-77 Upset of the top seeds. TreVion Hughes was the leading scorer for the Pilots with his 29 points.
DAY ONE: GAME TWO – This game pitted the (13) UNIVERSITY OF JAMESTOWN JIMMIES against the (4) FAULKNER UNIVERSITY EAGLES (should be the Furies).
The Jimmies put Faulkner University on Upset Alert by the Half with a 38-33 advantage. After the break the University of Jamestown proceeded to match the Eagles score for score, with each team notching 50 points. The final tally was Jimmies 88 Faulkner U 83. Mason Walters and Marc Kjos each had 26 points for Jamestown with Walters getting a Double-Double by also grabbing 12 rebounds. Continue reading
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ALEXANDRIA REGION
BRACKET A: GAME ONE – The 2 seeds – the TALLADEGA COLLEGE TORNADOES – did battle with the 3rd seeded LSU-ALEXANDRIA GENERALS.
The Tornadoes were clinging to a slender 30-27 edge at Halftime, then got more and more separation from the Generals after the break. Talladega College went on to win the game by a final score of 77-68. Both Darryl Baker and Amir Yusuf contributed 16 points, with Yusuf notching a Double-Double by also grabbing 19 rebounds. Continue reading
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With all of the postponements and outright cancellations over Covid it is difficult to feel that any of us have gotten the real feel of which teams truly are the hottest in the nation going into the 2021 NCAA Basketball Tournament.
Almost every team played games in which some of their best players had to sit out over a Covid diagnosis, or may have only performed well because the opposing team had some of their best players sitting out because of Covid. Continue reading
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Conference Champs move on to the NAIA National Tournament.
CROSSROADS LEAGUE: CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The two teams left standing in the battle for this conference’s crown were the 2nd seeded MARIAN UNIVERSITY KNIGHTS and the 4 seeds – the UNIVERSITY OF SAINT FRANCIS (IN) COUGARS.
By Halftime the Knights were in possession of a comfortable 41-30 advantage. After the break, Marian U managed a bit more separation from the Cougars for an 86-71 triumph led by Brayton Bailey and Antwaan Cushingberry, who put up 16 points each. * THE KNIGHTS ARE 2021 CHAMPIONS OF THE CROSSROADS LEAGUE *
FRONTIER CONFERENCE: CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – This title tilt pitted the top seeds – the UNIVERSITY OF PROVIDENCE (MT) ARGONAUTS – against the 2nd seeded CARROLL COLLEGE FIGHTING SAINTS.
The Argonauts were on top of the Fighting Saints 32-25 by the midpoint. From there, the University of Providence poured it on, ultimately winning the game by a very comfortable margin of 77-57. Rashee Stocks tossed in 20 points to lead the Argos while teammate Zaccheus Darko-Kelly notched a Double-Double of 16 points and 12 rebounds. * THE ARGONAUTS ARE 2021 CHAMPIONS OF THE FRONTIER CONFERENCE * Continue reading
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GREAT PLAINS ATHLETIC CONFERENCE
QUARTERFINAL ONE – In this game of the GPAC Conference Tournament the 8th seeded MOUNT MARTY COLLEGE LANCERS battled the top seeds – the MORNINGSIDE COLLEGE MUSTANGS.
The Lancers put the vaunted Mustangs on Upset Alert by Halftime with a commanding 45-30 advantage, then held on by their fingertips in the 2nd Half for a 76-73 triumph. In this shocker Chad Moran led Mount Marty College with 22 points.
QUARTERFINAL TWO – The 3 seeds – the UNIVERSITY OF JAMESTOWN JIMMIES – took on the 6th seeded DORDT COLLEGE DEFENDERS in this Quarterfinal.
By the Half the Jimmies were clinging to a tight 41-38 edge. After the break the University of Jamestown went medieval on the Defenders, outscoring them 48-30 to win the game by a final score of 89-68. Mason Walters led the victorious Jimmies with his Double-Double of 23 points and 11 rebounds. Continue reading
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Balladeer’s Blog offers one last round of congratulations to the 2020 college basketball champions in the divisions covered here. Topping the list are the divisions where the national tournaments were played in full.
USCAA (United States Collegiate Athletic Association) DIVISION TWO
National Champions – NEW HAMPSHIRE TECHNICAL INSTITUTE LYNX
Runners-Up – Penn State at Greater Allegheny Lions
2019 Champions – Penn State at Wilkes-Barre Lions
ACCA (Association of Christian College Athletics)
National Champions – UNIVERSITY OF LOS ANGELES COLLEGE OF DIVINITY BEARS
Runners-Up – Ozark Christian College Ambassadors
2019 Champions – Arlington Baptist University Patriots Continue reading
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