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
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. 
ROUND ONE, GAME ONE – The top seeds – the INDIANA UNIVERSITY NORTHWEST REDHAWKS – got a wake-up call from the 8th seeded LINCOLN CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY RED LIONS. The Redhawks seemed to have everything under control and led 57-40 come Halftime. After the break the Red Lions came storming back, with IUN holding on by their fingernails for a 96-91 win. Rashad Richardson’s 22 points led the Redhawks. 
ROUND ONE, GAME TWO – In this contest the 2nd ranked WASHINGTON ADVENTIST UNIVERSITY SHOCK likewise got almost more than they could handle from the 7 seeds – the GREEN MOUNTAIN COLLEGE EAGLES (Should be the Verdant Eagles). The Shock were on top 37-30 at the midpoint but barely eked out a 75-74 victory in the face of a furious Green Mountain College rally. Desmond Stanback led the Shock with 19 points. 
ROUND ONE, GAME ONE – (The top 2 seeds in the Sun Conference get a bye in the 1st round.) The 3rd seeded AVE MARIA UNIVERSITY GYRENES took the court against the 6 seeds – the SAINT THOMAS UNIVERSITY BOBCATS. The Gyrenes parlayed a 39-29 Halftime lead into an 80-69 triumph. Ave Maria University was led by Leo Behrend with 23 points. 
ROUND ONE, GAME TWO – The 5 seeds – the COLLEGE OF COASTAL GEORGIA MARINERS – visited the 4th seeded KEISER UNIVERSITY SEAHAWKS. At the break the Seahawks held a 39-34 advantage over the Mariners. The College of Coastal Georgia came back to force Overtime with a 76-76 tie to end Regulation. In the extra session the Mariners won it 86-85. Jaylen Smallwood’s 23 points led CCG. 
ROUND ONE, GAME ONE – The 3 seeds – the MAYVILLE STATE COMETS – faced the 6th seeded VITERBO UNIVERSITY V-HAWKS in this game. The Comets had mustered a 43-40 edge by the Half and from there they got more and more separation from the V-Hawks, ultimately winning the game by a score of 88-75. Gorg Alhag led the way for Mayville State with his 28 points. 
DAY ONE, GAME ONE – The 4 seeds – the JOHNSON UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE ROYALS – took the court against the 5th seeded MARANATHA BAPTIST UNIVERSITY SABERCATS. 
DAY ONE, GAME TWO – Up next the top seeded Defending National Champions – the RANDALL UNIVERSITY SAINTS – clashed with the 8th seeded KENTUCKY CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY KNIGHTS. 
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The top seeds – the GOVERNORS STATE JAGUARS – took on the 2nd seeded ROOSEVELT UNIVERSITY LAKERS for the CCAC crown yesterday. 
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – This title tilt pitted the STILLMAN COLLEGE TIGERS against the VOORHEES COLLEGE TIGERS, so you can insert my usual comment about how there are too many college sports teams called Tigers, Eagles, Bulldogs and Wildcats. 
FIRST SEMIFINAL – The 3rd seeded NORTHWESTERN (IA) COLLEGE RED RAIDERS took the court against the 7 seeds – the DOANE UNIVERSITY TIGERS (Didn’t I tell you there are too many teams called Tigers?) 
The 2018 college basketball postseason tips off tonight in the Divisions covered here at Balladeer’s Blog! 
FIRST QUARTERFINAL: 
THIRD QUARTERFINAL: 
OPENING ROUND, GAME ONE – In this game the 4 seeds – the WESTMONT COLLEGE WARRIORS (Should be the Guardians) – took the court against the 5th seeded WILLIAM JESSUP UNIVERSITY WARRIORS.
QUARTERFINAL GAME ONE – This was the game of the night in the SAC Tournament and featured the 4 seeds – the UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND ARTS OF OKLAHOMA DROVERS – taking on the 5th seeded WAYLAND BAPTIST UNIVERSITY PIONEERS (Should be the Flying W’s). 
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