Balladeer’s Blog offers one last round of congratulations to the 2016 college basketball champions in the FOURTEEN divisions covered here.
NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) DIVISION ONE
National Champions – MID-AMERICA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY EVANGELS
Runners-Up – Georgetown (KY) College Tigers
2015 Champions – Dalton State Roadrunners
NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) DIVISION TWO
National Champions – INDIANA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY WILDCATS
Runners-Up – University of Saint Francis (IN) Cougars
2015 Champions – Cornerstone University Golden Eagles Continue reading
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The last two teams standing in this tourney were the top seeded EMMANUEL COLLEGE LIONS and the 2nd seeded SOUTHWESTERN CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY EAGLES. The Lions calmly went about gaining control of the game, building up a 39-29 lead over the Eagles by Halftime. Southwestern Christian University eroded that advantage a little during the 2nd Half but ultimately Emmanuel College retained just enough distance for a 75-68 victory. Kurtis Robinson led the Lions with 16 points. * THE LIONS ARE NCCAA TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS * 
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – It was virtually all Cinderellas left in this tournament for the past couple rounds. The title game pitted the 13th seeded SALT LAKE CITY COLLEGE BRUINS against the 7 seeds – the HUTCHINSON COLLEGE BLUE DRAGONS. True to form for this year the underdog Bruins contained the Blue Dragons and led 42-27 by the break. From there Salt Lake City stayed on top for a 74-64 triumph. Connor Toolson tossed in 28 points to lead the victors. * THE BRUINS ARE NJCAA DIVISION ONE CHAMPIONS * 
FINAL FOUR – FIRST BERTH – The 8 seeds – the GILLETTE COLLEGE PRONGHORNS – stunned the nation yesterday with their upset win over the top seeded TRINITY VALLEY COLLEGE CARDINALS. The Pronghorns led the Cardinals in this Battle Royal by a slender margin of 36-34 at Halftime. After the break the action was just as fierce, but in the end Gillette College walked away with an 87-83 victory. Kavell Bigby- Williams led the Pronghorns into the Final Four with a Double- Double of 19 points and 20 rebounds. 
FINAL FOUR – SECOND BERTH – This game pitted the 7 seeds – the HUTCHINSON COLLEGE BLUE DRAGONS – against the 2nd seeded NORTHWEST FLORIDA STATE RAIDERS, the defending national champions. The Blue Dragons set the hardcourt on fire with an upset of their own, clubbing the Raiders into submission by a score of 55-28 at the midpoint. In the 2nd Half both teams scored in the 60s as Hutchinson College advanced to the Final Four with a Century Club level tally of 116-90. Samajae Haynes-Jones tossed in 33 points for the Blue Dragons. 
DAY ONE – GAME TWO – The TALLADEGA COLLEGE TORNADOES came in as the 2 seed and faced the 7th seeded WESTMONT COLLEGE WARRIORS. The Tornadoes got almost more than they could handle from the Warriors, who actually led Talladega College 33-31 at the break. In the 2nd Half the Tornadoes came from behind for a tight 63-61 victory led by Nigel Jones’ Double- Double of 20 points and 11 rebounds. 
FINAL FOUR: FIRST SEMIFINAL – This was a tale of two Halves as the 2 seeds – the INDIANA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY WILDCATS – took on their Region’s 1 seeds – the DAVENPORT UNIVERSITY PANTHERS. 
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The top seeded HILLSDALE FREE WILL BAPTIST COLLEGE SAINTS did battle with the 3 seeds – the GRACE BIBLE COLLEGE TIGERS – for the NCCAA title. The 1st Half ended with the Saints holding a 43-35 lead but the Tigers came roaring back to force Overtime through a 77-77 tie to end Regulation. In the extra session Hillsdale thoroughly outperformed Grace and won the game 97-84. Trey Sneed led the Saints with 27 points and 9 rebounds and his teammate Antonio Wilson contributed 26 points of his own. * THE SAINTS ARE NCCAA2 CHAMPIONS * 
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The top two seeds in this Tournament faced each other for the 2016 Championship. The 1 seeds – the ROCK VALLEY COLLEGE GOLDEN EAGLES – managed a slender 41-39 Halftime lead over the 2nd seeded ROCHESTER TECHNICAL COLLEGE YELLOW JACKETS. After the break the Golden Eagles steadily put more distance between themselves and the Yellow Jackets, ultimately winning by a score of 88-75. Rock Valley College was led to their second title in three years by L.T. Davis with 25 points. * THE GOLDEN EAGLES ARE NJCAA3 CHAMPIONS * 
ELITE EIGHT – FIRST BERTH – There was a mild upset in this game as the 7 seeds – the INDIANA UNIVERSITY- EAST RED WOLVES surprised the 6th seeded VALLEY CITY STATE VIKINGS. By Halftime the Red Wolves had Vikings fans nervous as they held a 41-35 advantage. After the break IU-East slowly but surely managed a bit more separation and ultimately defeated Valley City State 81-69. Vasha Davis led the Red Wolves with his 19 points. 
DAY TWO – GAME ONE – A one seed fell in this game that was the shocker of the day yesterday! The 8th seeded YORK (NE) COLLEGE PANTHERS took on the top seeded UNIVERSITY OF SAINT FRANCIS (IL) FIGHTING SAINTS and put them on Upset Alert with a 42-42 Halftime tie. After the break the Panthers went on to win this game for the ages by a final score of 87-79. Cameron Coleman led York College with 22 points. 
DAY TWO – GAME TWO – The 3 seeds – the NORTHWEST CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY BEACONS – faced the 6th seeded SOUTHWESTERN COLLEGE MOUNDBUILDERS. The Beacons methodically established dominance in the game, compiling a 35-28 advantage by the break and following up on that in the 2nd Half for an 84-69 victory. The Beacons were led by Austin Kuemper with 22 points. 
AMERICAN MIDWEST CONFERENCE – CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The 2nd seeded COLUMBIA (MO) COUGARS had their hands full in this title game with the 5 seeds – the WILLIAM WOODS UNIVERSITY OWLS. After a Battle Royal the Cougars managed to eke out a 77-74 victory. Along the way Columbia also eliminated Harris- Stowe State and Park University. * THE COUGARS ARE AMC TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS * 
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