NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – You can call 2014 the Year of the Mule, at least in NCAA Division Two men’s basketball. This year’s title tilt came down to a pair of Two Seeds – the UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL MISSOURI MULES and the WEST LIBERTY UNIVERSITY HILLTOPPERS. The teams seemed evenly matched at first and as the Halftime buzzer sounded the Hilltoppers were in the lead by a tight score of 39-37. Continue reading
Tag Archives: Final four
COLLEGE BASKETBALL: NCAA DIVISION TWO CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
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COLLEGE BASKETBALL: NCAA D2 FINAL FOUR
FIRST SEMIFINAL – The 2nd seeded WEST LIBERTY UNIVERSITY HILLTOPPERS did battle with one of the remaining One seeds – the UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA- AIKEN PACERS for the right to move on to the NCAA Division Two Championship Game. To the surprise of many the Hilltoppers had actually carved out a 41-40 lead for themselves by Halftime.
In the 2nd Half the game remained tight and intensely competitive. The teams were running neck and neck like a pair of racehorses but when all was said and done the Hilltoppers advanced, thanks to an 86-83 victory over the Pacers. Shawn Dyer of West Liberty University led his team by tossing in 30 of the Hilltoppers’ 86 points. Continue reading
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NAIA COLLEGE BASKETBALL CHAMPIONS FOR 2014: THE VANGUARD UNIVERSITY LIONS
Last night saw the championship game in Division One of the NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics). Two Lion prides did battle for the title as the 6th seeded VANGUARD UNIVERSITY LIONS took on the 8th seeded EMMANUEL COLLEGE LIONS. The opening Half was a tale of smothering defense from both teams. A 6-0 Vanguard lead became a 7-6 Emmanuel lead which turned into an 11-9 Vanguard advantage and so it went. The teams kept exchanging leads culminating in a 29-25 Halftime edge for VU.
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COLLEGE BASKETBALL: NAIA FINAL FOUR ACTION FROM LAST NIGHT
FINAL FOUR: GAME ONE – The 6th seeded VANGUARD UNIVERSITY LIONS were playing in their first-ever Final Four matchup and will next be making their very first appearance in the NAIA National Championship Game! Last night the Lions took the court against the unseeded SAINT GREGORY’S UNIVERSITY CAVALIERS and led by a score of 25-16 before the Cavs cut that to a 28-26 advantage. That became a 37-28 Lion lead before SGU came fighting back again, making it a 44-41 game with 2:21 until Halftime. By the time the buzzer sounded Vanguard had stretched out their lead again – this time to 53-43.
After the break the Lions began to assert themselves and put more and more distance between themselves and the Cavaliers. A 75-58 Vanguard advantage ended as a Century Club-level 108-88 semifinal victory for VU. Preston Wynne logged FORTY-TWO POINTS himself to lead the Lions. * THE VANGUARD UNIVERSITY LIONS WILL PLAY IN TUESDAY NIGHT’S CHAMPIONSHIP GAME!
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NCAA DIVISION 2 FINAL FOUR RESULTS
THE DEFENDING CHAMPIONS TAKE A FALL – All the members of the 2013 Final Four in D2 were 1 seeds as it turned out. The DRURY UNIVERSITY PANTHERS rose up and toppled the WESTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY VIKINGS, the defending champions. Alex Hall – Official Balladeer’s Blog Nickname: The Assassin – was the star once again with his season-high 35 points as he led the Panthers to their first ever appearance in the championship game on April 7th. Drury as a team shot 57.6% and won their 22nd game in a row, a program record. The defending champion Vikings found themselves trailing 50-32 by halftime. Ultimately Drury advanced by notching a Century Club-level 107 points to the 97 put up by Western Washington.
THE TOP SEED TAKES A FALL – The other battle of 1 seeds also resulted in an upset. The METRO STATE ROADRUNNERS surprised the overall top seeded WEST LIBERTY UNIVERSITY HILLTOPPERS. The Roadrunners lived up to their name with a very fast start, opening up the game with a 15-2 run. The Hilltoppers were playing catchup the rest of the way as Metro State made basket after basket while simultaneously shutting down West Liberty, which had boasted the nation’s best offense coming into Continue reading
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MARCH MADNESS CONTINUES: MORE TOURNAMENT RESULTS
* NJCAA1 CHAMPIONSHIP *
RED WHITE AND BLUE CHAMPIONS – In an “All Florida, All the time” battle for the National Championship in NJCAA Division One the 3rd seeded COLLEGE OF CENTRAL FLORIDA PATRIOTS faced the upstart 9 seeds, the NORTHWEST FLORIDA STATE RAIDERS, for the 2013 title. As they have so often this season the Patriots got the better of the Raiders (and nobody can blame the Tuck Rule – I’m kidding) once again. CCF completely shut down the Raiders standout player Chris Jones in the 1st half – and I mean shut down as in HE GOT ZERO POINTS. Meanwhile, Patriots star and tournament MVP Eugene McRory led his team with 23 points. CCF led 43-33 at the break and in the 2nd half withstood a spirited charge from the Raiders to win by a score of 74-69. Congratulations Patriots!
* NJCAA2 CHAMPIONSHIP *
WARRIORS TAKE THE TITLE – In the NJCAA Division Two Championship Game the 4th seeded REND LAKE COLLEGE WARRIORS got off to a 19-3 lead over their opponents, the 7th seeded MORAINE VALLEY COLLEGE CYCLONES, and never looked back. The Cyclones, who had excelled in spotting postseason opponents leads only to come storming back (see what I did there), finally dug themselves too big a hole to get out of. By halftime the game was a yawner, with Rend Lake College sporting a 48-26 advantage. The Cyclones performed Continue reading
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D3 PLUS NJCAA TOURNAMENT ACTION FROM MARCH 22ND
*D3 ELITE EIGHT *
THE CRU ADVANCES – In the NCAA Division 3 tournament the UNIVERSITY OF MARY HARDIN BAYLOR CRUSADERS aka “the Cru” upset the (11) ST MARY’S (MD) SEAHAWKS last night. The Seahawks actually held a 32-26 halftime advantage but UMHB refused to quit. In the 2nd half they came storming back and ultimately won a 69-66 Instant Classic.
TOMMIES TRIUMPHANT – The top seeded UNIVERSITY OF ST THOMAS TOMMIES battled the 8th seeded WILLIAMS COLLEGE EPHS (pronounced “eephs”) for the right to advance to the Final Four. The Ephs seemed primed for an upset and had seized a 47-39 lead by the break. The Tommies regrouped and Continue reading
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NCAA DIVISION 2 AND NJCAA BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES TODAY
Today ends the 2011-2012 college basketball season for the divisions covered by Balladeer’s Blog. The final two championship games take place this afternoon and evening.
First up, the Western Washington University Vikings (logo above left) play the Montevallo Falcons at 1pm ET for the D2 title. Tonight at 9pm ET the NJCAA championship game features the South Plains College Texans taking on the NW Florida Raiders. The Continue reading
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NJCAA BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT FINAL FOUR: MARCH 23RD
Tonight the South Plains College Texans (logo at right), the Eastern Oklahoma Mountaineers, the Seward Saints and the NW Florida Raiders battle for the right to advance to tomorrow’s NJCAA Championship Game. Consolation games continue today and tomorrow featuring teams like the Monroe College Tribunes and the Otero Rattlers. The NCAA Division 2 Championship Game will Continue reading
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NJCAA COLLEGE BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT AND THE D2 FINAL FOUR: MARCH 22ND
All you varmints can get ready for more college hoops action today as the NJCAA tournament continues and the NCAA Division 2 Final Four will play tonight to see who advances to the championship game this Saturday! Will Bellarmine get back to the title game? Find out!
The Three Rivers Raiders (logo at left, believe it or not, with Rocky the Raider) take on the defending champs of NJCAA basketball, the College of Southern Idaho Golden Eagles at Continue reading
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