March Madness is upon us once more . Office betting pools, lost productivity in the work place and days & nights spent watching countless basketball games! As fans of a certain sports broadcaster would sing:
“Come on and watch some basketball/ You’ll watch it all/ Day and all night …”
If you plan to win your office bracket pool get ready to put in a little time. Filling out a strong March Madness bracket requires doing research, including picking the right double-digit seeds to pull off the inevitable Upsets. Identifying those teams that will break other people’s brackets while making your own pay off isn’t easy. Continue reading
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The SPRING ARBOR UNIVERSITY COUGARS went up against the OREGON TECH HUSTLIN’ OWLS for the title in NAIA Division Two. The Cougars wound up on top of the Hustlin’ Owls 44-35 by Halftime. In the 2nd Half Oregon Tech inched a little bit closer but was ultimately left behind as Spring Arbor U won it 82-76. Brandon Durnell led the victors with THIRTY-TWO points. * THE COUGARS ARE CHAMPIONS OF NAIA DIVISION TWO * 
DISTRICT 203 CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The 3 seeds – the MILWAUKEE AREA TECHNICAL COLLEGE STORMERS – faced the top seeded SOUTH SUBURBAN COLLEGE BULLDOGS. The Stormers put the Bulldogs on Upset Alert with a 39-37 edge at the break, then carried through on the deal, winning the game by a score of 75-72. Twenty-three points from Shannon Stanford led Milwaukee Area Tech. * THE STORMERS ADVANCE TO THE NJCAA NATIONAL TOURNAMENT * 
DISTRICT 207 CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – In this matchup the DAKOTA COUNTY TECH BLUE KNIGHTS clashed with the SOUTHEAST (NE) COLLEGE STORM. By the midpoint of the game the Blue Knights had eked out a 41-39 lead over the Storm. After the break the two teams went basket for basket, scoring 43 more points each as Dakota County Tech won an 84-82 Instant Classic. Dashawn Walker tossed in 23 points to lead the victors. * THE BLUE KNIGHTS ADVANCE TO THE NJCAA NATIONAL TOURNAMENT * 
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. 
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 * 
FINAL FOUR: FIRST BERTH – The CHRISTOPHER NEWPORT UNIVERSITY CAPTAINS squared off against the WILLIAMS COLLEGE EPHS (“eephs”). By Halftime the Captains were clinging to a slight 32-30 edge over the Ephs. After the break Christopher Newport University inched further and further away from their opponents, ultimately winning the game by a score of 79-70. Marcus Carter led the Captains with 27 points. 
FINAL FOUR: SECOND BERTH – In this game the SWARTHMORE COLLEGE GARNET played the NICHOLS COLLEGE BISON. The Garnet were on top of the Bison 32-23 at the midpoint. In the 2nd Half Nichols College rallied but Swarthmore College held them off for a 69-65 victory. Twenty points from Zac O’Dell led the way for the Garnet. 
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The last two teams standing in this tournament were the 4th seeded OAKWOOD UNIVERSITY AMBASSADORS and the Cinderella 7 seeds – the BLUEFIELD STATE BIG BLUES. The opening Half was a tale of stellar defense from both teams and ended with the Ambassadors on top 26-22. After the break each team went basket for basket, putting up 35 more points. Oakwood University won the game 61-57 led by 20 points from Edmen Stewart. * THE AMBASSADORS ARE USCAA NATIONAL CHAMPIONS * 
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – In this tournament’s title tilt the 2 seeds – the GRACE CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY TIGERS – did battle with the 4th seeded GREAT LAKES CHRISTIAN COLLEGE CRUSADERS. The Tigers seemed in control with a 55-38 Halftime lead but from there the Crusaders came back to force Overtime with a 75-75 tie. In Overtime Kellum Bridgeforth hit a 3-pointer with 5 seconds left to give Grace Christian University an 84-83 win. Bridgeforth led his team with 21 points. * THE TIGERS ARE NATIONAL CHAMPIONS OF NCCAA DIVISION TWO * 
SECOND SEMIFINAL – In this game the 7th seeded BLUEFIELD STATE BIG BLUES took the court against the 3 seeds – the BRYANT & STRATTON COLLEGE (Buffalo) BOBCATS. The Big Blues put the Bobcats on Upset Alert at the break with their 28-26 edge. In the 2nd Half Bluefield State mustered a tad more separation to win the game 65-62. Twenty-eight points from Korey Williams led the Big Blues. 
FIRST SEMIFINAL – The 4 seeds – the GREAT LAKES CHRISTIAN COLLEGE CRUSADERS – squared off against the 8th seeded MARANATHA BAPTIST UNIVERSITY SABERCATS. By the midpoint of the game the Crusaders were in control with a 40-28 advantage over the Sabercats. From there Great Lakes Christian College methodically left Maranatha Baptist further and further behind, ultimately defeating them 81-61. Isiah Reed of the Crusaders tossed in 20 points to lead his team. 
DAY ONE, GAME ONE – The 3 seeds – the BRYANT & STRATTON (Buffalo) BOBCATS – played the 6th seeded CLINTON COLLEGE GOLDEN BEARS to tip off the Division One Tournament in the USCAA (United States Collegiate Athletic Association). By Halftime the Golden Bears had spooked the Bobcats with a 38-29 lead but after the break Bryant & Stratton came roaring from behind to win the game 80-73. Nicc (sic) Johnson’s 19 points led the Bobcats. 
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The title tilt in Division Two of the USCAA (United States Collegiate Athletic Association) pitted the 3rd seeded PENN STATE AT WILKES-BARRE LIONS against the 5 seeds – the JOHNSON & WALES UNIVERSITY WILDCATS. By Halftime the Lions were well and truly in charge, leading the Wildcats by a count of 47-27. From there PSU-Wilkes-Barre coasted to an 86-64 blowout win led by Jordan Williams with his Double Double of 20 points and 12 rebounds. * THE LIONS ARE CHAMPIONS OF THE USCAA DIVISION TWO * 
DAY ONE, GAME ONE – The UNIVERSITY OF JAMESTOWN JIMMIES took the court against the SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY FIRE in this game. The Jimmies had managed a 47-39 advantage at the break before leaving the Fire coughing and choking in their dust with a Century Club level 106-85 smackdown. Terrell Alfred led the University of Jamestown with a Double Double of THIRTY points and 10 rebounds. 
DAY ONE, GAME TWO – The INDIANA UNIVERSITY EAST RED WOLVES battled the BETHEL (IN) COLLEGE PILOTS (Riverboat Pilots). The Red Wolves and the Pilots exchanged blow for blow and basket for basket. A 39-39 tie at the Half became a 73-73 deadlock to end Regulation. In the Overtime session Indiana University East emerged with an 83-81 triumph. Aaron Thomas of the Red Wolves led his team with a Double Double of 21 points and 12 rebounds. 
ACCA CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The 4th seeded Defending National Champions – the ARLINGTON BAPTIST UNIVERSITY PATRIOTS – faced the 6th seeded CHAMPION CHRISTIAN COLLEGE TIGERS in the title game of the ACCA (Association of Christian College Athletics). The Tigers held a 38-36 edge come Halftime but after the break the Patriots demonstrated the old “heart of a champion” and came back to win this 75-73 Instant Classic. * THE PATRIOTS ARE ACCA NATIONAL CHAMPIONS * 
DAY TWO, GAME ONE – Starting Day Two in the USCAA (United States Collegiate Athletic Association) was this clash between the 8th seeded CENTRAL PENN COLLEGE SILVER KNIGHTS and the 6 seeds – the NEW HAMPSHIRE TECHNICAL INSTITUTE LYNX. The Silver Knights had the Lynx on Upset Alert with a 42-31 lead at the break, then kept NHTI at arm’s length in the 2nd Half for an 82-70 victory. Tyreke Woodard led Central Penn College with 28 points. 
DAY ONE, GAME ONE – The 10 seeds – the VERMONT TECH GREEN KNIGHTS – took the court against the 7th seeded PENN STATE AT MONT ALTO LIONS. The Green Knights showed they were in it for the win with their 40-36 Halftime lead. After the break Vermont Tech got more and more separation from PSU-MA, ultimately defeating them by a final score of 89-73. Jeremiah Shaw tossed in 21 points to lead the Green Knights. 
DAY ONE, GAME TWO – This game pitted the 8th seeded PENN STATE AT YORK LIONS against the 9 seeds – the CENTRAL PENN COLLEGE SILVER KNIGHTS. The Lions held a comfortable 34-27 lead by the midpoint but from there the Silver Knights closed the gap. The Central Penn rally fell just short as Penn State at York won it 58-57. John Gillespie’s 14 points led the victors. 
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