In the divisions of college basketball covered here at Balladeer’s Blog the 2020 postseason is under way! Last night the NAIA’s Sun Conference Tournament tipped off.
THE SUN CONFERENCE
ROUND ONE, GAME ONE – The 4th seeded AVE MARIA UNIVERSITY GYRENES hosted the 5 seeds – the WARNER UNIVERSITY ROYALS. By Halftime the Gyrenes were in complete control with a 50-25 lead over the Royals. After the break Ave Maria University kept up the pressure, ultimately winning by a final tally of 89-67. Leo Behrend led the Gyrenes with a Double-Double of 26 points and 12 rebounds. Continue reading
KNOCKING OFF NUMBER ONE – The CAMPBELLSVILLE UNIVERSITY TIGERS took it on the road to face the number 1 team in the nation – the GEORGETOWN (KY) COLLEGE TIGERS. (Have I mentioned there are way too many college sports teams called Tigers?) Campbellsville U put Georgetown on Upset Alert with a 49-44 Halftime edge then held on for a tight 94-92 victory. Taiveyhon Mason led CU with THIRTY-FIVE points. 
OTHER UPSETS IN THE RANKINGS – The (16) MASTER’S UNIVERSITY MUSTANGS toppled the visiting (4) WESTMONT COLLEGE WARRIORS 80-75 ### Meanwhile the CENTRAL CHRISTIAN COLLEGE OF KANSAS TIGERS (ahem) upset the (13) SOUTHWESTERN ASSEMBLIES OF GOD UNIVERSITY LIONS 99-94 in Overtime ### And the MIDAMERICA NAZARENE UNIVERSITY PIONEERS used DOUBLE Overtime to defeat the (23) CLARKE UNIVERSITY PRIDE 104-102. 
CENTURY CLUB – Teams scoring 100 points or more in Regulation: The (6) LSU-SHREVEPORT PILOTS (Riverboat Pilots) trounced the (8) LSU-ALEXANDRIA GENERALS 110-80 ### The (11) PROVIDENCE (MT) ARGONAUTS hammered the ROCKY MOUNTAIN COLLEGE BATTLIN’ BEARS 117-86 ### The (17) ARIZONA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY FIRESTORM won 106-80 at the LIFE PACIFIC COLLEGE WARRIORS ### And the EVANGEL UNIVERSITY CRUSADERS won 108-106 at the GRAND VIEW UNIVERSITY VIKINGS. 
NUMBER THREE TAKES A FALL – The MARTIN METHODIST COLLEGE REDHAWKS paid a visit to the number 3 team in the nation – the DALTON STATE ROADRUNNERS. The RedHawks were on top 32-26 come Halftime, then held on by their fingertips for a thrilling 71-70 Upset triumph. Tomonique Marion led Martin Methodist College with 21 points. 
OTHER UPSETS IN THE RANKINGS – The MENLO COLLEGE OAKS welcomed the 21st ranked WILLIAM JESSUP UNIVERSITY WARRIORS on Saturday and took them down 91-83 ### And the THOMAS MORE COLLEGE SAINTS toppled the visiting number 13 UNIVERSITY OF THE CUMBERLANDS PATRIOTS by a final score of 85-71. 
CENTURY CLUB – Teams scoring 100 points or more in Regulation: The (8) LSU-ALEXANDRIA GENERALS crushed the OUR LADY OF THE LAKE UNIVERSITY SAINTS 103-73 ### Meanwhile the ARIZONA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY FIRESTORM won 105-67 at the OTTAWA UNIVERSITY (AZ) SPIRIT ### And the PARK UNIVERSITY PIRATES clobbered the HARRIS-STOWE STATE HORNETS 105-77. 
NUMBERS TWO AND THREE SURVIVE SCARES – The (2) MID-AMERICA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY EVANGELS snuck past the visiting WAYLAND BAPTIST UNIVERSITY PIONEERS (should be the Flying W’s) by a score of 83-81 ### And the (3) DALTON STATE ROADRUNNERS needed Overtime to defeat their hosts the BETHEL (TN) WILDCATS in a 107-101 shootout. 
UPSETS IN THE RANKINGS – The (18) TOUGALOO COLLEGE BULLDOGS took the court against the visiting (13) XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA GOLD RUSH. The Bulldogs had managed a 36-32 advantage by Halftime, then held tight to topple the Gold Rush 64-63 ### And the LINDSEY WILSON COLLEGE BLUE RAIDERS won 80-75 at the (22) SHAWNEE STATE BEARS. 
CENTURY CLUB – Teams scoring 100 points or more in Regulation: The BENEDICTINE COLLEGE RAVENS clobbered their guests the MOUNT MERCY UNIVERSITY MUSTANGS 101-65 ### And the (19) CENTRAL BAPTIST COLLEGE MUSTANGS utterly eviscerated the visiting CROWLEY’S RIDGE COLLEGE PIONEERS 108-58. 
NUMBER SEVEN TAKES A FALL – The 23rd ranked ARIZONA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY FIRESTORM took it on the road against the number 7 team in the nation – THE MASTER’S UNIVERSITY MUSTANGS. The Firestorm made the Mustangs faithful nervous with a 54-47 Halftime lead, then consummated the Upset, winning the game 93-84. Tim Soares led ACU with a Double-Double of 23 points and 12 rebounds. 
… AND NUMBER EIGHT COMES TUMBLING AFTER – The number 12 LEWIS-CLARK STATE WARRIORS visited the 8th ranked PROVIDENCE (MT) ARGONAUTS yesterday. The Warriors (should be the Explorers) laid down the law in the 1st Half, leading 53-25 by the break. From there Lewis-Clark State authored a 96-65 beatdown led by 25 points from Trystan Bradley. Jake Albright logged a Double-Double of 13 points and 12 rebounds.
OTHER UPSETS IN THE RANKINGS – The UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE & ARTS OF OKLAHOMA DROVERS brought down the (10) JOHN BROWN UNIVERSITY GOLDEN EAGLES (should be the Abolitionists) in OT 90-84 ### Meanwhile the WILLIAM JESSUP UNIVERSITY WARRIORS beat the (18) HOPE INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY ROYALS 96-86 ### And the THOMAS MORE COLLEGE SAINTS won 69-60 at the (25) SHAWNEE STATE BEARS. 
OTHER UPSETS IN THE RANKINGS – The VANGUARD UNIVERSITY LIONS traveled to face the 18th ranked HOPE INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY ROYALS and defeated them in a 62-61 Instant Classic ### And the CENTRAL CHRISTIAN COLLEGE OF KANSAS TIGERS notched a 78-75 Upset of the home-standing (19) TEXAS WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY RAMS. 
CENTURY CLUB – Teams scoring 100 points or more in Regulation: The UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE & ARTS OF OKLAHOMA DROVERS visited the SOUTHWESTERN CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY EAGLES and knocked them off 102-92 ### And the WAYLAND BAPTIST UNIVERSITY PIONEERS utterly annihilated the visiting BACONE COLLEGE WARRIORS to the tune of 104-47. 
WHEN RANKED TEAMS CLASH – The number 6 team in the nation – the DALTON STATE ROADRUNNERS – traveled to take on the 24th ranked WILLIAM CAREY UNIVERSITY CRUSADERS. The Roadrunners were trailing the Crusaders 32-28 at Halftime but after the break they outscored their opponents 47-35 for a 75-67 comeback victory. Rand Bell led Dalton State with THIRTY-ONE points. 
CENTURY CLUB – Teams scoring 100 points or more in Regulation: The HARRIS-STOWE STATE HORNETS defeated their hosts the FREED-HARDEMAN UNIVERSITY LIONS in a 101-96 shootout ### Meanwhile the (1) GEORGETOWN (KY) COLLEGE TIGERS hammered the CUMBERLAND UNIVERSITY PHOENIX 116-74 ### And the BETHEL (TN) WILDCATS downed the BREWTON-PARKER COLLEGE BARONS 101-82. 