*** NAIA ***
SOONER ATHLETIC CONFERENCE: CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The last two teams standing in the SAC Tournament were the 5 seeds – the OKLAHOMA CITY UNIVERSITY STARS – and the top seeded JOHN BROWN UNIVERSITY GOLDEN EAGLES (should be the Abolitionists). The Stars were chasing the Golden Eagles 37-34 at Halftime but after the break they outscored JBU 40-36 to win this Instant Classic by a final count of 74-73. Chris Williams led Oklahoma City University with 22 points. * THE STARS ARE CHAMPIONS OF THE SOONER ATHLETIC CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT *
SOUTHERN STATES ATHLETIC CONFERENCE
FIRST SEMIFINAL – The Cinderella 7 seeds – the MIDDLE GEORGIA STATE KNIGHTS – remain THE story of the SSAC Tournament. The Knights notched another Upset, this time over the 3rd seeded BETHEL (TN) WILDCATS. A 42-33 lead for the Wildcats at the Half became a 74-74 tie to end Regulation. The 1st Overtime ended in an 86-86 deadlock before the Knights emerged with a 94-93 triumph in DOUBLE OVERTIME. Darrell White had THIRTY-ONE points to lead Middle Georgia State. Continue reading
ROUND ONE, GAME ONE – The 6 seeds – the MONTANA TECH OREDIGGERS – clashed with the 3rd seeded ROCKY MOUNTAIN COLLEGE BATTLIN’ BEARS. The Orediggers put the Battlin’ Bears on Upset Alert with a stunning 36-20 Halftime lead then went on to consummate the deal with a 70-59 victory. Taylor England led Montana Tech with a Double Double of 16 points and 11 rebounds. This was the Orediggers’ first Opening Round win since 1999. 
ROUND ONE, GAME TWO – The 4th seeded MONTANA STATE-NORTHERN LIGHTS took the court against the 5 seeds – the PROVIDENCE UNIVERSITY ARGONAUTS. At the end of an action-packed 1st Half the Lights were on top 50-37. From there the Argonauts outscored Montana State-Northern 56-51 but in vain. The Lights entered the Century Club with 101 points to the 93 scored by Providence. Adam Huse and Mascio McCadney had 26 points each for the victors. 
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 * 
KANSAS COLLEGIATE ATHLETIC CONFERENCE: CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – In this tournament’s title tilt the 2 seeds – the SOUTHWESTERN COLLEGE MOUNDBUILDERS – took the court against the top seeded OKLAHOMA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY EAGLES. The Moundbuilders were chasing the Eagles 36-34 at Halftime but outscored them 44-39 after the break for a 78-75 Upset. Cameron Hunt led Southwestern College with his Double Double of 29 points and 12 rebounds. * THE MOUNDBUILDERS ARE CHAMPIONS OF THE KCAC TOURNAMENT * 
MIDEAST REGION: CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The 4th seeded JOHNSON UNIVERSITY (TN) ROYALS (formerly the Preachers) played the 2 seeds – the GREAT LAKES CHRISTIAN COLLEGE LAKERS. The Lakers were on top 40-32 at the break but from there the Royals came storming back to win the game 84-78. Coby Jones’ 19 points led Johnson University. * THE ROYALS ADVANCE TO THE NATIONAL TOURNAMENT * 
NORTH REGION: CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – This was a battle of chalk versus a Cinderella. The top seeds – the MARANATHA BAPTIST UNIVERSITY SABERCATS – did battle with the 6th seeded MOODY BIBLE INSTITUTE ARCHERS. The Archers, hoping for one more Upset, were hanging around, trailing the Sabercats by just 40-35 at Halftime. After the break Maranatha Baptist University put more and more separation between themselves and Moody Bible Institute for a 72-58 triumph. Jonathan Book’s Double Double of 19 points and 11 rebounds led the victors. * THE SABERCATS ADVANCE TO THE NATIONAL 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 * 
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The top seeded UNION COLLEGE BULLDOGS took the court against the team in the 2 spot – the MONTREAT COLLEGE CAVALIERS. The Bulldogs were on top 33-29 at Halftime but the Cavaliers came roaring back to force Overtime with a 79-79 tie to end Regulation. In the extra session Union College outscored Montreat 16-6 for a 95-85 triumph. K.J. Duronslett led UC with a Double Double of 22 points and 10 rebounds. * THE BULLDOGS ARE CHAMPIONS OF THE AAC TOURNAMENT * 
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The 8 seeds – the UNIVERSITY OF SAINT FRANCIS (IL) FIGHTING SAINTS – completed their incredible run through the CCAC tourney yesterday against the 3rd seeded GOVERNORS STATE JAGUARS. The Fighting Saints were chasing the Jaguars 28-27 at the break but came from behind for a 59-54 victory in this defense-heavy affair. Terrion Howard’s 18 points led USF. * THE FIGHTING SAINTS ARE CHAMPIONS OF THE CCAC TOURNAMANT * 
ROUND ONE, GAME ONE – The top seeds – the INDIANA UNIVERSITY NORTHWEST REDHAWKS – got a wake-up call from the 8th seeded LINCOLN CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY RED LIONS. The Redhawks seemed to have everything under control and led 57-40 come Halftime. After the break the Red Lions came storming back, with IUN holding on by their fingernails for a 96-91 win. Rashad Richardson’s 22 points led the Redhawks. 
ROUND ONE, GAME TWO – In this contest the 2nd ranked WASHINGTON ADVENTIST UNIVERSITY SHOCK likewise got almost more than they could handle from the 7 seeds – the GREEN MOUNTAIN COLLEGE EAGLES (Should be the Verdant Eagles). The Shock were on top 37-30 at the midpoint but barely eked out a 75-74 victory in the face of a furious Green Mountain College rally. Desmond Stanback led the Shock with 19 points. 
ROUND ONE, GAME ONE – (The top 2 seeds in the Sun Conference get a bye in the 1st round.) The 3rd seeded AVE MARIA UNIVERSITY GYRENES took the court against the 6 seeds – the SAINT THOMAS UNIVERSITY BOBCATS. The Gyrenes parlayed a 39-29 Halftime lead into an 80-69 triumph. Ave Maria University was led by Leo Behrend with 23 points. 
ROUND ONE, GAME TWO – The 5 seeds – the COLLEGE OF COASTAL GEORGIA MARINERS – visited the 4th seeded KEISER UNIVERSITY SEAHAWKS. At the break the Seahawks held a 39-34 advantage over the Mariners. The College of Coastal Georgia came back to force Overtime with a 76-76 tie to end Regulation. In the extra session the Mariners won it 86-85. Jaylen Smallwood’s 23 points led CCG. 
The 2019 College Basketball postseason is underway in the divisions covered here at Balladeer’s Blog! As usual the NAIA’s Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference tipped things off with Round One of their Conference Tournament last night. 
FOUR OVER FIVE – In the 4 spot the ROOSEVELT UNIVERSITY LAKERS (shoutout to a regular reader of Balladeer’s Blog who went there) welcomed the 5th seeded ROBERT MORRIS (IL) UNIVERSITY EAGLES. The Eagles put the Lakers on Upset Alert at the break with a 31-28 advantage but Roosevelt U came roaring back for a 79-70 victory. Kevin Day’s 23 points led the Lakers and his teammate Grant Gibson notched a Double Double with 15 points and 10 rebounds. 
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