Balladeer’s Blog offers one last round of congratulations to the 2017 college basketball champions in the FOURTEEN divisions covered here.
NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) DIVISION ONE
National Champions – TEXAS WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY RAMS
Runners-Up – Life University Running Eagles
2016 Champions – Mid-America Christian University Evangels
NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) DIVISION TWO
National Champions – UNION COLLEGE BULLDOGS
Runners-Up – Cornerstone University Golden Eagles
2016 Champions – Indiana Wesleyan University Wildcats Continue reading
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The title game in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics pitted two 1 seeds against each other. The UNION COLLEGE BULLDOGS took the court against the CORNERSTONE UNIVERSITY GOLDEN EAGLES. 
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The 4th seeded RANDALL UNIVERSITY SAINTS – the defending National Champions – faced the 7th seeded KENTUCKY CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY KNIGHTS for the 2017 title. 
FINAL FOUR, FIRST BERTH – The (6) BELLEVUE UNIVERSITY BRUINS battled the (1) BETHEL (IN) COLLEGE PILOTS (Riverboat Pilots) for a berth in the 2017 Final Four. 
ELITE EIGHT, FIRST BERTH – This was a 6 seed over a 2 seed upset which saw 7 ties and 5 lead changes. The (6) TABOR COLLEGE BLUEJAYS kept their Upset Mojo going against the (2) ROBERT MORRIS UNIVERSITY (IL) EAGLES (Should be the Wind Eagles). 
ELITE EIGHT, SECOND BERTH – The (1) BETHEL COLLEGE (IN) PILOTS (Riverboat Pilots) took the court against the (4) EASTERN OREGON UNIVERSITY MOUNTAINEERS in this game. 
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). 
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The title tilt in this league pitted the 2 seeds – the NORTHWESTERN (IA) COLLEGE RED RAIDERS – against the top seeded BRIAR CLIFF UNIVERSITY CHARGERS. The Red Raiders shrugged off an early SEVENTEEN POINT DEFICIT and came back to seize a 46-44 lead over the Chargers by Halftime. After the break Northwestern College still had a fight on their hands but squeezed out a 95-89 victory led by Nathan Wedel’s 23 points. * THE RED RAIDERS ARE GPAC TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS * 
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The two teams who were still standing for this title tilt in the AII were the top seeded WASHINGTON ADVENTIST UNIVERSITY SHOCK and the 4 seeds – the ROCHESTER COLLEGE WARRIORS. A furious opening Half ended with the Shock clinging by their fingernails to a 34-33 edge. 
FIRST SEMIFINAL – The top seeds – the CAL MARITIME ACADEMY KEELHAULERS – seek to extend their dominance of the California Pacific Conference when it comes to hoops. Their semifinal opponents were the 4th seeded UNIVERSITY OF ANTELOPE VALLEY PIONEERS, making their first post-season appearance in their very first year of eligibility. 
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