Tag Archives: NAIA basketball

NAIA & CCCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS, AND NCAA DIV THREE TOURNAMENT

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The last two teams standing in the NAIA were the FREED-HARDEMAN UNIVERSITY LIONS and the LANGSTON UNIVERSITY LIONS (should be Hugheses). By Halftime Freed-Hardeman University was on top 33-30, and after the break they squeezed out a tiny bit more separation from Langston U. FHU triumphed 76-71 led by 20 points from Orlando Thomas.

NCAA DIVISION THREE

ELITE EIGHT: FIRST BERTH – The UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO MAROONS clashed with the GUSTAVUS ADOLPHUS COLLEGE GUSTIES. Gustavus Adolphus had the Maroons a bit wary with their 40-39 edge at the Half. From there, the University of Chicago snuck by the Gusties for a 93-92 victory. Twenty-one points from Shane Regan led the Maroons. Continue reading

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NAIA FINAL FOUR SET, CCCAA FINAL FOUR PLAY

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS

FINAL FOUR: FIRST BERTH – The FREED-HARDEMAN UNIVERSITY LIONS faced the ARIZONA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY FIRESTORM. The teams went almost basket for basket in the opening Half, with the Firestorm on top 36-34 going into the locker room. From there the play was just as tight, but the Lions eked out a 79-78 victory. Rico Sain put up 21 points to lead Freed-Hardeman. Continue reading

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NAIA ELITE EIGHT SET AND NCCAA DIV 1 CHAMPS CROWNED

NATIONAL CHRISTIAN COLLEGE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION DIVISION ONE

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – This title tilt was fought between the 3 seeds – the LANCASTER BIBLE COLLEGE CHARGERS – and the 4th seeded COLUMBIA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY RAMS. By Halftime the Chargers were on top 37-27. After the break, LBC kept the Rams at arm’s length as they won their first ever National Championship 82-75. Camden Hurst tossed in 27 points to lead the Chargers. 

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS

ELITE EIGHT: FIRST BERTH – The AVE MARIA UNIVERSITY GYRENES faced the LOUISIANA STATE AT SHREVEPORT PILOTS (Riverboat Pilots). The Gyrenes put LSU-Shreveport on Upset Alert at the Half with their 46-38 advantage. The Pilots cut into the AMU lead from there, but still lost to them by a Century Club score of 102-98. The Gyrenes were led by Michael Klekas with a Double Double of 26 points and 11 rebounds. His teammates Jack Watkins and Alex Sherwood got Double Doubles of their own with 21 points & 11 rebounds, and 14 points & 10 rebounds, respectively.  Continue reading

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NAIA NATIONAL TOURNAMENT AND NCCAA D2 CHAMPIONSHIP

NATIONAL CHRISTIAN COLLEGE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION DIVISION TWO

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – This title tilt pitted the 5th seeded NORTH CENTRAL UNIVERSITY RAMS against the 6 seeds – the CROWN COLLEGE POLARS. The Rams went on top early and led 40-25 by Halftime. After the break, they got even more separation from the Polars, ultimately winning the game 76-51. Carmello McNeal led North Central U. with 23 points.

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS

ROUND TWO: GAME ONE – The AVE MARIA UNIVERSITY GYRENES did battle with the FRIENDS UNIVERSITY FALCONS. A shootout was in store with Friends University on top 64-59 at the Half. From there, the Gyrenes made their move, overtaking the Falcons and winning the game by a Century Club score of 108-102. Jaylen White and Jack Watkins led Ave Maria with 21 points each.  Continue reading

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BALLADEER’S BLOG: COLLEGE BASKETBALL POSTEASON ACTION CONTINUES

NAIA

HBCU CONFERENCE: CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The title tilt in this storied conference pitted the 3 seeds – the SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY AT NEW ORLEANS KNIGHTS – against the top seeded TOUGALOO COLLEGE BULLDOGS. The Knights were up 35-30 at Halftime but Tougaloo forced Overtime with a 72-72 tie. In the extra session SUNO won out 84-81. Dorian Booker led the victors with his 26 points. 

AMERICAN MIDWEST CONFERENCE: CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – Fighting it out for the conference crown were the top seeded COLUMBIA (MO) COUGARS and the 3 seeds – the WILLIAMS BAPTIST UNIVERSITY EAGLES. The Cougars had Williams Baptist on the run, leading them 42-29 at the midpoint before putting them away by a final tally of 83-71. Seventeen points from Max Rieger led the way for Columbia College.    Continue reading

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COLLEGE BASKETBALL POSTSEASON CONTINUES AT BALLADEER’S BLOG

NAIA

APPALACHIAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE: CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The last two teams standing in this conference tournament were the 3 seeds – the JOHNSON UNIVERSITY ROYAL CRUSADERS – and the top seeded UNIVERSITY OF PIKEVILLE BEARS. By Halftime the Royal Crusaders had UPike worried with their 38-30 advantage. From there the Bears rallied but fell just short as Johnson University triumphed 76-75 led by Mason Lockhart and his Double Double of THIRTY-SEVEN POINTS and 12 rebounds.

CALIFORNIA PACIFIC CONFERENCE: ROUND ONE, GAME ONE – The 3rd seeded CAL MARITIME ACADEMY KEELHAULERS took the court against the 6th seeded PACIFIC UNION COLLEGE PIONEERS. This was a tale of two Halves as the Pioneers dominated at first, leading 51-41 at the midpoint. After the break, the Keelhaulers owned the 2nd Half, winning out 87-78. Lawrence Long led Cal Maritime with a Double Double of 25 points and 11 rebounds.  Continue reading

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NAIA COLLEGE BASKETBALL POSTSEASON TIPPED OFF YESTERDAY

The 2026 basketball postseason has started in the divisions covered here at Balladeer’s Blog.

NAIA

HEART OF AMERICA ATHLETIC CONFERENCE – Only one Upset in the HAAC Tournament Opening Round.

The rest was chalk as the top seeded GRACELAND UNIVERSITY YELLOW JACKETS crushed the 8th seeded PERU STATE BOBCATS 95-68; the (2) WILLIAM PENN UNIVERSITY STATESMEN beat the (7) BENEDICTINE COLLEGE RAVENS 88-73; the (3) GRAND VIEW UNIVERSITY VIKINGS (should be Zebras) edged the (6) MISSOURI VALLEY COLLEGE VIKINGS 65-60; and the (5) CENTRAL METHODIST UNIVERSITY EAGLES toppled the (4) MISSOURI BAPTIST UNIVERSITY SPARTANS 75-66. Continue reading

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BALLADEER’S BLOG’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL RESULTS: FEB 22nd

NAIA

NUMBER FOUR TAKES A FALL – On Senior Night for the SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY FIRE they welcomed the number 4 team in the nation – the AVE MARIA UNIVERSITY GYRENES. The Fire put AMU on Upset Alert by Halftime with their 39-29 lead, but the Gyrenes forced Overtime with a 71-71 tie. In the extra session Southeastern U. won 83-80. Anthony Kangah led the victors with 21 points while teammate Nathan Mikkelson got a Double Double of 19 points and 13 rebounds.

CENTURY CLUB – Teams scoring 100 or more points in Regulation: The ST. MARY-OF-THE-WOODS COLLEGE POMEROYS beat the visiting INDIANA UNIVERSITY AT COLUMBUS CRIMSON PRIDE 101-70   ###   Meanwhile, the UNIVERSITY OF RIO GRANDE (OH) RED STORM downed the KENTUCKY CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY KNIGHTS 114-79   ###   And the GOVERNORS STATE JAGUARS won 107-55 at the JUDSON UNIVERSITY EAGLES. Continue reading

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BALLADEER’S BLOG’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL RANKINGS

Here are this week’s rankings in the 12 divisions covered here at Balladeer’s Blog.

NAIA 

### 1. GRACE COLLEGE LANCERS   ###   2. BETHEL (IN) PILOTS (Riverboat Pilots)   ###   3. FREED-HARDEMAN UNIVERSITY LIONS   ###   4. AVE MARIA UNIVERSITY GYRENES   ###   5. OKLAHOMA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY EAGLES      ###

6. ARIZONA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY FIRESTORM   ###   7. UNIVERSITY OF THE CUMBERLANDS PATRIOTS   ###   8. HOPE INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY ROYALS   ###   9. MONTANA TECH OREDIGGERS   ###   10. OREGON TECH HUSTLIN’ OWLS   ###     

USCAA DIVISION ONE  

### 1. NORTH AMERICAN UNIVERSITY STALLIONS   ###   2. BRYANT & STRATTON COLLEGE (Buffalo) BOBCATS   ###   3. NEWPORT NEWS APPRENTICE SCHOOL BUILDERS (Shipbuilders)   ###   4. BLOOMFIELD COLLEGE BEARS   ###   5. SOUTHEASTERN ILLINOIS COLLEGE FALCONS   ### Continue reading

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BALLADEER’S BLOG’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL RESULTS: JAN 4th

NAIA

DOWN GOES NUMBER NINE – The MADONNA UNIVERSITY CRUSADERS welcomed the 9th ranked team in the nation – the INDIANA TECH WARRIORS (should be Hoplites). The Crusaders put Indiana Tech on Upset Alert by Halftime with their 52-42 advantage. From there, Madonna University kept their opponents at arm’s length for a 98-91 win. Ahmoni Weston led the Crusaders with THIRTY-TWO points. 

CENTURY CLUB – Teams scoring 100 or more points in Regulation: The (1) GRACE COLLEGE LANCERS beat the MT. VERNON NAZARENE UNIVERSITY COUGARS 103-93   ###   Meanwhile, the LINCOLN (CA) OAKLANDERS defeated the CAL MARITIME KEELHAULERS 102-96   ###   And the (18) LIFE UNIVERSITY RUNNING EAGLES won 105-84 at the POINT UNIVERSITY SKYHAWKS. Continue reading

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