NAIA DIVISION TWO
FIRST SEMIFINAL – The OREGON TECH HUSTLIN’ OWLS played the COLLEGE OF IDAHO COYOTES in Final Four action. The Hustlin’ Owls had the Coyotes on the ropes by Halftime with a massive 52-29 lead. After the break Oregon Tech weathered a minor College of Idaho rally to defeat them 93-81. Seth Erickson put up 27 points to lead the Hustlin’ Owls.
SECOND SEMIFINAL – The Upset-minded SPRING ARBOR UNIVERSITY COUGARS clashed with the MARIAN UNIVERSITY KNIGHTS. A defense-heavy opening Half ended with the Cougars on top 25-22. From there Spring Arbor University left the Knights further and further behind on their way to a 66-50 triumph. Seventeen points from Brandon Durnell led the Cougars.
NJCAA DIVISION ONE
DISTRICT TWO CHAMPIONSHIP – The NORTHEASTERN OKLAHOMA A&M GOLDEN NORSEMEN fought the CONNORS STATE COWBOYS. The Golden Norsemen held a 38-29 advantage at the break but the Cowboys wouldn’t go away and even held a few late leads before Northeastern Oklahoma A&M won the game 67-65 off a Rudi Williams jumper with 1.6 seconds to play. Kyle Lukasiewicz and Samkelo Cole led the way with 16 points each. * THE GOLDEN NORSEMEN ADVANCE TO THE NJCAA NATIONAL TOURNAMENT * Continue reading
DISTRICT 6: ROUND ONE UPSETS – The 13th seeded NORTHWEST KANSAS TECH MAVERICKS stunned the 4 seeds – the COWLEY COLLEGE TIGERS in an 87-84 Instant Classic ### And the 11 seeds – the PRATT COLLEGE BEAVERS – toppled the 6th seeded CLOUD COUNTY COLLEGE THUNDERBIRDS by a count of 68-56.
DISTRICT 6: HUTCH ADVANCES – The 3 seeds – the HUTCHINSON COLLEGE BLUE DRAGONS – took on the 14th seeded ALLEN COUNTY COLLEGE RED DEVILS. By Halftime the Blue Dragons had compiled a 52-38 advantage over the Red Devils. After the break Allen County College could merely inch a bit closer as Hutchinson won it 98-88 led by Malique Jacobs with 24 points.
DISTRICT 6: EIGHT OVER NINE – This game pitted the 8th seeded INDEPENDENCE COLLEGE PIRATES against the 9th seeded GARDEN CITY COLLEGE BRONCBUSTERS. The Pirates pounded out a 37-24 lead by the Half then withstood an attempted rally by the Broncbusters to win the game 71-66. Jibril Harris led Independence College with a Double Double of 20 points and 13 rebounds.
CALIFORNIA PACIFIC CONFERENCE: CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The top seeded UNIVERSITY OF ANTELOPE VALLEY PIONEERS mixed it up with the 3 seeds – the EMBRY-RIDDLE (AZ) AERONAUTICAL UNIVERSITY EAGLES (should be the Aeronauts). The Pioneers were on top 35-25 at Halftime but after the break the Eagles quickly pulled to within 3 points at 36-33. From there UAV got more separation, ultimately winning it 65-56 led by Hayden Hall’s 18 points. * THE PIONEERS ARE CHAMPIONS OF THE CALIFORNIA PACIFIC CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT *
CASCADE COLLEGIATE CONFERENCE: CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The 2 seeds – the COLLEGE OF IDAHO COYOTES – played the Cinderella 6th seeded SOUTHERN OREGON UNIVERSITY RAIDERS (should be the Sea Gulls). A 33-25 Coyotes lead at the break transformed into a 70-55 triumph for College of Idaho when all was said and done. Matt Meyers led the way for the Coyotes with 19 points. * THE COYOTES ARE CHAMPIONS OF THE CASCADE COLLEGIATE CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT *
GREAT PLAINS ATHLETIC CONFERENCE: CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – This title clash pitted the 2nd seeded UNIVERSITY OF JAMESTOWN JIMMIES against the top seeds – the MORNINGSIDE COLLEGE MUSTANGS. Points flew like shrapnel in the 1st Half, which ended with the Mustangs up 49-46. After the break the Jimmies roared back for an 86-84 victory in this Instant Classic. Twenty points from Kevin Oberweiser led the University of Jamestown. * THE JIMMIES ARE CHAMPIONS OF THE GREAT PLAINS ATHLETIC CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT *
NORTH STAR ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION: CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The 3 seeds – the MAYVILLE STATE COMETS – played the 2nd seeded BELLEVUE (NE) BRUINS. The 1st Half ended with the Comets leading the Bruins by a score of 33-26. After the break Mayville State completed the Upset, offing Bellevue 66-55. Daniel Lindgren tossed in 18 points to lead the Comets. * THE COMETS ARE NSAA CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS *
ASSOCIATION OF INDEPENDENT INSTITUTIONS: CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The 3rd seeded VOORHEES COLLEGE TIGERS squared off against the 4 seeds – the COLLEGE OF THE OZARKS BOBCATS – for the AII title. The Tigers were on top 44-36 at Halftime but the Bobcats pulled off a 72-72 tie to end Regulation. The 1st Overtime wound up in an 82-82 deadlock but in the 2nd Voorhees College slashed their way to a 91-89 win led by Alex Brooks’ 24 points. * THE TIGERS ARE AII CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS *
DISTRICT 303: CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – Familiar rivals clashed in this District Tournament title tilt: The top seeds – the RICHLAND COLLEGE THUNDERDUCKS – and the 3rd seeded EASTFIELD COLLEGE HARVESTERS. The Thunderducks had eked out a 42-41 edge by the break then mustered 1 more point of separation from the Harvesters for an 82-80 victory. Caleb Williams led the way for Richland College with THIRTY-FOUR points. * THE THUNDERDUCKS ARE CHAMPIONS OF DISTRICT 303 *
NJCAA (National Junior College Athletic Association) 1. VINCENNES UNIVERSITY TRAILBLAZERS ### 2. FLORIDA SOUTHWESTERN STATE BUCCANEERS ### 3. COFFEYVILLE COLLEGE RED RAVENS ### 4. RANGER COLLEGE RANGERS ### 5. NORTHWEST FLORIDA STATE RAIDERS ###
6. SHERIDAN COLLEGE GENERALS ### 7. SOUTH PLAINS COLLEGE TEXANS ### 8. ODESSA COLLEGE WRANGLERS ### 9. CAPE FEAR COLLEGE SEA DEVILS ### 10. SOUTHEASTERN (IA) COLLEGE BLACKHAWKS ###
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The lone remaining 1 seed – the FERRIS STATE BULLDOGS – battled the 3rd seeded NORTHERN STATE WOLVES for the NCAA Division Two title.
FIRST SEMIFINAL – The 10 seeds – the COLLEGE OF SOUTHERN IDAHO GOLDEN EAGLES – set out to drag down the 3rd seeded VINCENNES UNIVERSITY TRAILBLAZERS in this game.
FINAL FOUR: FIRST BERTH – This battle of Cinderellas pitted the 13th seeded SOUTH PLAINS COLLEGE TEXANS against the 12 seeds – the CONNORS STATE COWBOYS.
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The NEBRASKA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY PRAIRIE WOLVES – a team Balladeer’s Blog has covered since their NAIA years – did battle with the UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN AT OSHKOSH TITANS for the D3 title.
DISTRICT 301: CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The 2 seeds – the HERKIMER COLLEGE GENERALS – faced down the Cinderella 8th seeded FULTON-MONTGOMERY COLLEGE RAIDERS.
DISTRICT 306: CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The top seeded BROOKDALE COLLEGE JERSEY BLUES took on the 3rd seeded CUMBERLAND COUNTY COLLEGE DUKES for this District Title.