Tag Archives: sports

March 28, 2014 · 9:13 pm

COLLEGE BASKETBALL: NCAA D2 FINAL FOUR

West Liberty Hilltoppers logoFIRST SEMIFINAL – The 2nd seeded WEST LIBERTY UNIVERSITY HILLTOPPERS did battle with one of the remaining One seeds – the UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA- AIKEN PACERS for the right to move on to the NCAA Division Two Championship Game. To the surprise of many the Hilltoppers had actually carved out a 41-40 lead for themselves by Halftime.

In the 2nd Half the game remained tight and intensely competitive. The teams were running neck and neck like a pair of racehorses but when all was said and done the Hilltoppers advanced, thanks to an 86-83 victory over the Pacers. Shawn Dyer of West Liberty University led his team by tossing in 30 of the Hilltoppers’ 86 points. Continue reading →

4 Comments

Filed under College Basketball

Tagged as , , , , , , , , ,

March 27, 2014 · 8:17 pm

COLLEGE BASKETBALL: ELITE EIGHT ACTION IN NCAA DIVISION TWO

centralmissourimulesELITE EIGHT – GAME ONE – For newbies to Balladeer’s Blog I’ll point out that Division Two uses a regional system that allows for more than just four One seeds and Two seeds. At any rate last night the 2nd seeded UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL MISSOURI MULES kicked things off in a hardcourt battle with one of the 1 seeds – the SOUTHERN CONNECTICUT STATE OWLS. The Mules had managed a little bit of separation by Halftime and led 45-39. After the break what was already a terrific game became an Instant Classic as the Owls offered an in-your- face challenge to UCM until at last the 2 seeds pulled away. In the end the Mules moved on to the Final Four with a 98-88 victory. Daylen Robinson’s 28 points led Central Missouri.  

Metro State Roadrunner logoELITE EIGHT – GAME TWO – Another One seed – the METRO STATE UNIVERSITY ROADRUNNERS – faced the only true Cinderella remaining in the NCAA Division Two tourney – the 8th seeded TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY GOLDEN TIGERS. The level of competition at last caught up with the hard-fighting Golden Tigers and by the break the Roadrunners had “beep- beeped” their way to an impressive 42-28 lead. The 2nd Half was an offensive explosion for both teams but Tuskegee was never going to win a battle of exchanging baskets and Metro State triumphed by a Century Club-worthy score of 106-87. Brandon Jefferson tossed in 26 of those 106 points to lead the Roadrunners.   Continue reading →

6 Comments

Filed under College Basketball

Tagged as , , , , , , , , ,

March 26, 2014 · 11:51 am

NAIA COLLEGE BASKETBALL CHAMPIONS FOR 2014: THE VANGUARD UNIVERSITY LIONS

Vanguard U LionsLast night saw the championship game in Division One of the NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics). Two Lion prides did battle for the title as the 6th seeded VANGUARD UNIVERSITY LIONS took on the 8th seeded EMMANUEL COLLEGE LIONS. The opening Half was a tale of smothering defense from both teams. A 6-0 Vanguard lead became a 7-6 Emmanuel lead which turned into an 11-9 Vanguard advantage and so it went. The teams kept exchanging leads culminating in a 29-25 Halftime edge for VU.

Continue reading →

2 Comments

Filed under College Basketball

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , ,

March 25, 2014 · 3:40 pm

COLLEGE BASKETBALL: NAIA FINAL FOUR ACTION FROM LAST NIGHT

Vanguard U LionsFINAL FOUR: GAME ONE – The 6th seeded VANGUARD UNIVERSITY LIONS were playing in their first-ever Final Four matchup and will next be making their very first appearance in the NAIA National Championship Game! Last night the Lions took the court against the unseeded SAINT GREGORY’S UNIVERSITY CAVALIERS and led by a score of 25-16 before the Cavs cut that to a 28-26 advantage. That became a 37-28 Lion lead before SGU came fighting back again, making it a 44-41 game with 2:21 until Halftime. By the time the buzzer sounded Vanguard had stretched out their lead again – this time to 53-43.

After the break the Lions began to assert themselves and put more and more distance between themselves and the Cavaliers. A 75-58 Vanguard advantage ended as a Century Club-level 108-88 semifinal victory for VU. Preston Wynne logged FORTY-TWO POINTS himself to lead the Lions. * THE VANGUARD UNIVERSITY LIONS WILL PLAY IN TUESDAY NIGHT’S CHAMPIONSHIP GAME!

Continue reading →

2 Comments

Filed under College Basketball

Tagged as , , , , , , , , ,

March 23, 2014 · 7:16 pm

FOUR ADDITIONAL COLLEGE BASKETBALL CHAMPIONS CROWNED, PLUS NAIA ELITE EIGHT ACTION

*** NCCAA ***

point loma nazareneNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – Yesterday saw the title tilt in Division One of the NCCAA (National Christian College Athletic Association). The 4th seeded POINT LOMA NAZARENE UNIVERSITY SEA LIONS took the court against the 7th seeded GRACE COLLEGE LANCERS for the crown.

The two teams matched each other almost literally blow for blow and basket for basket in the 1st Half and at the break the Sea Lions held a 38-35 lead. The 2nd Half was just as intense and riveting but there could only be one champion and that turned out to be Point Loma Nazarene by a final score of 75-73. Hayden Lescault’s 14 points led the Sea Lions while in defeat the Lancers’ Greg Miller led all scorers with 22 points. * CONGRATULATIONS TO THE POINT LOMA NAZARENE UNIVERSITY SEA LIONS!  

*** NJCAA ***

Jones County Bobcats logoNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The battle for the NJCAA Division One title resulted in a monumental upset! The 11th seeded JONES COUNTY COLLEGE BOBCATS had already shocked the nation by fighting their way to the title clash, and yesterday the only obstacle remaining between them and the championship was the top seeded INDIAN HILLS COLLEGE WARRIORS.

The Bobcats were all business from the opening tip-off and by the time the Halftime buzzer sounded they held a 46-33 advantage over the Warriors. In the 2nd Half Indian Hills College desperately battled back to preserve their title hopes but JCC would have none of it. The Bobcat defense prevented the Warriors from narrowing the gap by any appreciable amount and in the end Continue reading →

2 Comments

Filed under College Basketball

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , ,

March 22, 2014 · 9:33 pm

COLLEGE BASKETBALL: NATIONAL TOURNAMENT RESULTS FROM MARCH 21st: NAIA, NCCAA AND NJCAA

*** NAIA ***

Emmanuel College Lions logoELITE EIGHT – FIRST BERTH FILLED – The 8th seeded EMMANUEL COLLEGE LIONS took on and took out their unseeded opponents, the UNIVERSITY OF THE CUMBERLANDS PATRIOTS yesterday. The Lions were led by Michael Stanley, who recorded a double-double with his 23 points and 12 rebounds. Despite an early 18-18 tie by Halftime Emmanuel College led the game 39-22. The 2nd Half was pretty much more of the same and in the end the dominant Lions moved on with a comfortable 73-51 victory.  

Cal State San Marcos CougarsELITE EIGHT – SECOND BERTH FILLED – The top seeded CAL STATE- SAN MARCOS COUGARS got the scare of their lives yesterday from the 16th seeded CULVER-STOCKTON COLLEGE WILDCATS. Things seemed to be under control to the Cougars and their fans at the break as their team held a 43-37 lead. The closing Half would see the Wildcats mount an incredible charge for a possible comeback. When all was said and done the Cougars survived by the skin of their teeth 92-91. De’End Parker again led San Marcos, this time with Continue reading →

27 Comments

Filed under College Basketball

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , ,

March 21, 2014 · 10:52 pm

COLLEGE BASKETBALL: TOURNAMENT ACTION FROM MARCH 20th

*** NAIA ***

St Gregorys CavaliersDAY TWO – GAME ONE – The unseeded SAINT GREGORY’S UNIVERSITY CAVALIERS started Day Two off by upsetting the 15th seeded WILEY COLLEGE WILDCATS. The Wildcats got off to a 6-3 lead but the Cavaliers quickly turned the tables and took a 19-10 lead. By Halftime both teams were knotted up at 30-30. With 12:51 remaining in the game St Gregory’s University held a 52-42 lead and stayed in control from there, winning by a final score of 84-69. Marty Wilkerson’s 20 points led the Cavaliers. 

Freed Hardeman Lions logoDAY TWO – GAME TWO – The 10 seeds – the FREED-HARDEMAN UNIVERSITY LIONS – did battle with the unseeded MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY- NORTHERN LIGHTS in the second game of the day. The Lions shot a red-hot 68.2 % from the field in the 1st Half but the Lights kept pace thanks to 3-point shots despite shooting just 43.3% themselves. At the break the Lions clung to a slim 35-34 lead. Small runs by Freed- Hardeman were always answered by MSU-Northern and with just 33 seconds remaining to play the score stood at 66-63 in favor of the Continue reading →

10 Comments

Filed under College Basketball

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , ,

March 20, 2014 · 8:37 pm

MARCH MADNESS CONTINUES: TOURNAMENT ACTION IN THE NAIA, NCCAA AND NJCAA

*** NAIA ***

Emmanuel College Lions logoDAY ONE – GAME ONE – The 8th seeded EMMANUEL COLLEGE LIONS led the unseeded UNIVERSITY OF SAINT THOMAS (TX) CELTS for most of their game against each other. The Lions led by a score of 22-6 early on but by Halftime the Celts had cut that to a 30-23 advantage. Those Celts kept things close early in the 2nd Half but eventually a 17-0 run by Emmanuel College gave the Lions a commanding lead the rest of the way. What was at times a 22 point lead wound up as a 68-56 victory for Emmanuel as their team advances to the Second Round for the first time ever! Michael Stanley led the Lions with 22 points.   

Cumberlands PatriotsDAY ONE – GAME TWO – The second game of the day brought the first upset of the National Tournament for Division One of the NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics). The unseeded UNIVERSITY OF THE CUMBERLANDS PATRIOTS stunned the 9th seeded ROCKY MOUNTAIN COLLEGE BATTLIN’ BEARS in a close game that became a blowout by the end. The Battlin’ Bears actually led 11-4 early on but that just galvanized the Patriots who seized a 14-13 lead and expanded that to 45-27 by the break. In the 2nd Half UC led by at LEAST 10 points the rest of the game. By the time all was said and done the Continue reading →

Leave a comment

Filed under College Basketball

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , ,

March 19, 2014 · 10:13 pm

NAIA2 COLLEGE BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME, PLUS MORE TOURNAMENT ACTION IN THE NJCAA

*** NAIA2 ***

Indiana Wesleyan WildcatsNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – Last night the 5th seeded INDIANA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY WILDCATS won their very first national championship in basketball! Their opponents were the 10th seeded MIDLAND UNIVERSITY WARRIORS who, like the Wildcats’ other foes in this year’s tourney, fell by double-digits. IWU watched an early 16-7 lead melt away to a mere 19-18 advantage, following which the two teams exchanged baskets over and over again to a 31-31 tie. Just before Halftime the Wildcats scored the last 5 points of the opening period and took a 36-31 lead into the locker room. In the 2nd Half Indiana Wesleyan used runs of 9-0 and 13-4 to put more and more distance between themselves and the Warriors, culminating in a 69-52 lead with 5 minutes remaining in the game. Midland University battled their way back to a 70-63 score but that 7 point gap was the closest they would get in the remaining 2:22. The Wildcats went on to win by a final score of 78-68. Senior Jordan Weidner led his team with 21 points. * CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WILDCATS, THE 2014 NAIA2 NATIONAL CHAMPIONS!  

*** NJCAA ***

State Fair College RoadrunnersFIRST ROUND – GAME SEVEN – Two final games completed Round One of the NJCAA National Tournament yesterday. In Game Seven the 19th seeded STATE FAIR COLLEGE ROADRUNNERS provided the first upset of the tourney by bringing down the 14 seeds – the SHELTON STATE BUCCANEERS. The Bucs actually led at the Half by a score of 42-38 but by the end of Regulation the Roadrunners had tied up the game at 92-92. Overtime saw the upstart Roadrunners “beep-beep” their way past the Buccaneers to win by a score of 111-99. SFC’s Joe Thomasson led the Roadrunners with 29 points while Continue reading →

2 Comments

Filed under College Basketball

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , ,

March 18, 2014 · 8:17 pm

COLLEGE BASKETBALL: NAIA FINAL FOUR, NJCAA NATIONAL TOURNAMENT, CCCAA CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

*** NAIA ***

Indiana Wesleyan WildcatsNAIA FINAL FOUR – GAME ONE – The 5th seeded INDIANA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY WILDCATS and the (unseeded) SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY FIRE played in last night’s First Semifinal in NAIA2 basketball. In a tale of two Halves the upstart Fire team seemed to be threatening an upset once again, hanging around IWU who held just a 43-37 lead at the break. The 2nd Half saw the Wildcats begin to get more separation, and considering the fact that IWU shot 54% from the field and SIXTY-FOUR percent from 3-point range it’s a bit surprising that the final score was as mild as this: Wildcats 98  Fire 77. * INDIANA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY PLAYS IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME TUESDAY NIGHT *

Midland University WarriorsNAIA FINAL FOUR – GAME TWO – In this Second Semifinal in NAIA2 basketball the 10th seeded MIDLAND UNIVERSITY WARRIORS did to the (unseeded) ROBERT MORRIS (IL) UNIVERSITY EAGLES the same thing world leaders like Putin do to the weak, inept and crooked little man named Barack Obama on a regular basis: namely they folded, spindled and mutilated them. For a Semifinal clash this game seemed instead like a November game between mismatched teams. In the role of Obama RMU seemed impotent and confused much of the time while the Warriors played with skill and Continue reading →

4 Comments

Filed under College Basketball

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , ,