The 2019 College Basketball postseason is underway in the divisions covered here at Balladeer’s Blog! As usual the NAIA’s Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference tipped things off with Round One of their Conference Tournament last night.
TOP SEED FALLS – The 8th seeded UNIVERSITY OF SAINT FRANCIS (IL) FIGHTING SAINTS took on the CCAC’s top seeded OLIVET NAZARENE UNIVERSITY TIGERS. The Fighting Saints showed they were in it for the win, playing hard enough for a 34-33 edge at Halftime. The teams put up 47 points each in the explosive 2nd Half as USF emerged with an 81-80 Upset. Cole Micek led the victors with 24 points.
FOUR OVER FIVE – In the 4 spot the ROOSEVELT UNIVERSITY LAKERS (shoutout to a regular reader of Balladeer’s Blog who went there) welcomed the 5th seeded ROBERT MORRIS (IL) UNIVERSITY EAGLES. The Eagles put the Lakers on Upset Alert at the break with a 31-28 advantage but Roosevelt U came roaring back for a 79-70 victory. Kevin Day’s 23 points led the Lakers and his teammate Grant Gibson notched a Double Double with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Continue reading
KNOCKING OFF NUMBER TWO – Yesterday the 15th ranked UNIVERSITY OF JAMESTOWN JIMMIES played host to the number 2 team in the nation – the MORNINGSIDE COLLEGE MUSTANGS. The Jimmies put the Mustangs on Upset Alert with a 45-37 Halftime lead and then carried through with an 88-75 triumph. Kevin Oberweiser’s 25 points led the way for the University of Jamestown. 
NUMBER THREE TAKES A TUMBLE AS WELL – In this game the number 10 OREGON TECH HUSTLIN’ OWLS took the court against the visiting 3rd ranked COLLEGE OF IDAHO COYOTES. At the break the Hustlin’ Owls were chasing the Coyotes 35-30 but in the 2nd Half Oregon Tech turned it on for a 75-72 comeback win. Mitchell Fink tossed in 23 points to lead the victors.
OTHER UPSETS IN THE TOP TWENTY-FIVE – The (11) MARIAN UNIVERSITY KNIGHTS toppled the (5) INDIANA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY WILDCATS 94-84 ### Meanwhile the SAINT FRANCIS (IN) COUGARS downed the (6) MOUNT VERNON NAZARENE UNIVERSITY COUGARS in an 86-74 catfight ### And the JOHNSON & WALES (FL) TIGERS won a 74-70 Instant Classic over the (16) WARNER UNIVERSITY ROYALS. 
DOWN GOES NUMBER TWO – The 18th ranked LEWIS-CLARK STATE WARRIORS welcomed the number 2 team in the nation – the CARROLL (MT) COLLEGE FIGHTING SAINTS. The Warriors had the Fighting Saints worried at Halftime with their 35-26 lead, then continued suffocating them with solid defense in the 2nd Half for a 70-55 victory. Dana Abe tossed in 16 points to lead Lewis-Clark State. 
AND NUMBER FOUR CAME TUMBLING AFTER – Meanwhile the WESTMONT COLLEGE WARRIORS (Should be the Guardians) took the court against their guests, the country’s number 4 VANGUARD UNIVERSITY LIONS. A 34-34 tie at the break served to put the Lions on Upset Alert, followed by the Warriors consummating the deal with a 75-70 triumph. Olisa Nwachie led Westmont College with 19 points. 
OTHER UPSETS IN THE TOP TWENTY-FIVE – The MID-AMERICA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY EVANGELS toppled the visiting (12) LANGSTON UNIVERSITY LIONS by a score of 86-77 ### The FAULKNER EAGLES defeated the (13) WILLIAM CAREY CRUSADERS 91-82 ### Meanwhile the OKLAHOMA PANHANDLE STATE AGGIES knocked off the (21) JOHN BROWN UNIVERSITY GOLDEN EAGLES 85-70 in their own house ### And the MONTANA-WESTERN BULLDOGS won a tight 80-79 clash with the (22) ROCKY MOUNTAIN COLLEGE BATTLIN’ BEARS. 
NUMBER SEVEN TAKES A FALL – The 18th ranked WILLIAM JESSUP UNIVERSITY WARRIORS hosted the number 7 team in the nation – THE MASTER’S UNIVERSITY MUSTANGS. The Warriors let a 44-31 Halftime lead slip away to a 69-69 tie to end Regulation. The 1st Overtime ended in a 78-78 deadlock but in the 2nd William Jessup University emerged with a 90-84 triumph. Tyras Rattler Jr’s 21 points led the victors. 
OTHER UPSETS IN THE TOP TWENTY-FIVE – There was only one other Upset among the ranked teams yesterday. The OKLAHOMA CITY UNIVERSITY STARS took the court against their guests – the number 21 JOHN BROWN UNIVERSITY GOLDEN EAGLES (should be the Abolitionists). The Stars were chasing the Golden Eagles 42-31 at the Half but came roaring back after the break. Oklahoma City University won an 82-81 Instant Classic led by 20 points from Trae Bryant. 
WORKIN’ OVERTIME – The MENLO COLLEGE OAKS defeated the visiting WESTMONT COLLEGE WARRIORS (should be the Guardians) 97-91 in the extra session ### Meanwhile the (6) TOUGALOO COLLEGE BULLDOGS won a 99-98 OT thriller at the EDWARD WATERS COLLEGE TIGERS ### And the (16) UNIVERSITY OF PIKEVILLE BEARS downed their hosts the LIFE UNIVERSITY RUNNING EAGLES 85-79. 
DOWN GOES NUMBER TWO – The GRAND VIEW UNIVERSITY VIKINGS welcomed the number 2 team in the nation – the WILLIAM PENN UNIVERSITY STATESMEN. The Vikings put the Statesmen on Upset Alert with a 29-28 edge at Halftime. William Penn U came back to force Overtime with a 62-62 tie to end Regulation. In OT the Vikings managed a 73-69 triumph led by Jordan Brunkow’s 29 points. 
AND NUMBER THREE COMES TUMBLING AFTER – In this Upset the HARRIS-STOWE STATE HORNETS played host to the country’s 3rd ranked MISSOURI BAPTIST UNIVERSITY SPARTANS. This defensive epic saw the Hornets on top 33-22 at the break before the Spartans knotted things up 57-57 by game’s end. The 1st OT ended in a 63-63 tie but in the SECOND OVERTIME Harris-Stowe State won it 74-70. Nate Rigmaiden led the way with 29 points. 
OTHER UPSETS IN THE TOP TWENTY-FIVE – The LSU-SHREVEPORT PILOTS (Riverboat Pilots) knocked off the visiting (13) WILEY (TX) WILDCATS in a 94-90 shootout ### Meanwhile the GRACELAND UNIVERSITY YELLOW JACKETS edged the (17) PERU STATE BOBCATS 74-72 ### And the OKLAHOMA PANHANDLE STATE AGGIES (should be the Okies) downed the (20) USAO DROVERS 84-83 in their own house. 
DOWN GOES NUMBER EIGHT – The 20th ranked UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE & ARTS OF OKLAHOMA DROVERS played host to the number 8 team in the nation – the LANGSTON UNIVERSITY LIONS. By Halftime the Lions clung to a miniscule 45-44 edge but in the 2nd Half the Drovers came from behind to pull off an 89-86 Upset. Cameron Hines led the way for USAO with THIRTY points. 
OTHER UPSETS IN THE TOP TWENTY-FIVE – The UNIVERSITY OF THE CUMBERLANDS PATRIOTS edged the visiting (10) CAMPBELLSVILLE UNIVERSITY TIGERS in a 77-76 Instant Classic ### Meanwhile the (24) JOHN BROWN UNIVERSITY GOLDEN EAGLES (should be the Abolitionists) won a 73-72 thriller at the (14) WAYLAND BAPTIST UNIVERSITY PIONEERS ### And the LINDSEY WILSON COLLEGE BLUE RAIDERS toppled the (15) UNIVERSITY OF PIKEVILLE BEARS 88-78. 
CENTURY CLUB – Teams scoring 100 points or more in Regulation: The (21) ARIZONA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY FIRESTORM defeated the MENLO COLLEGE OAKS 103-96 ### The (5) MASTER’S UNIVERSITY MUSTANGS downed the LIFE PACIFIC COLLEGE WARRIORS 104-96 ### And the OKLAHOMA CITY UNIVERSITY STARS put up 106 points to the 80 scored by the SOUTHWESTERN ASSEMBLIES OF GOD UNIVERSITY LIONS. 
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The 2nd seeded NORTHWEST MISSOURI STATE BEARCATS took on D2’s last surviving 1 seed – the FAIRMONT STATE FALCONS – for the championship. 
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The 4 seeds – the HUTCHINSON COLLEGE BLUE DRAGONS – took the court against the 6th seeded EASTERN FLORIDA STATE TITANS for the NJCAA Division One title. 
FIRST SEMIFINAL – The 3 seeds – the LOUISBURG COLLEGE HURRICANES – faced the 2nd seeded SOUTH SUBURBAN COLLEGE BULLDOGS for the right to advance to the Championship Game. 
FINAL FOUR, FIRST BERTH – The 6th seeded EASTERN FLORIDA STATE TITANS and the Cinderella 14 seeds – the MOTLOW COLLEGE BUCKS – played one of the oddest games of this year’s tournament. 
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