NAIA Schedule & Links, Games of the Day, Five Players to Watch: Feb. 19th

February 19th NAIA Games

Games of the Day:

#24 William Jessup @ #5 Arizona Christian 4pm PT Live Video

This weekend’s games should decide who wins the GSAC East and gets the auto-bid for the NAIA National Tournament. Arizona Christian has done enough to get an at-large bid and should be fine. William Jessup is on the IN side of the bubble right now, but if they can get at least a split this weekend you would think they are in as well.

#18 Bethel (KS) @ #3 William Penn 7:30pm CT Live Video

The fun part of this Covid-era is that you get games that just pop onto the schedule last minute. A Top 25 battle between the leaders of the Heart of America and the leaders of the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference go head to head tonight! While Penn Gymnasium is a tough place for teams to win at, don’t expect Bethel to go in and roll over. This team is tough, plays good defense and competes on the glass. William Penn is super talented and deep. Good NAIA National Tournament preview game!

#16 Loyola @ #15 Stillman 8pm ET Live Video

While the seeding for the SSAC Tournament are already in place this should still be a fun two game battle between these two teams! No shortage of talent on the floor in this game either. Sometimes, you question if both teams will show up to play with the SSAC seeding already announced, but a Top 25 battle with the chance to improve seeding for NAIA National Tournament makes this game still have a lot of intrigue!

Five Players To Watch

– 5th in the NAIA in EFGM per game with 3.571

– 13th in the NAIA in PPG with 22.286

– 26th in the NAIA in Offensive RPG with 3.071

– 29th in the NAIA in 3FG% at 48.1%

– 49th in the NAIA in SPG with 1.857

Petty is one of the more elite shooters in the NAIA, but he isn’t just a shooter. He has a great ability to score from all levels and competes on the offensive glass. He has established himself as one of the best players in the SSAC this year and with a good weekend could pave the way for POY in the league!

– 7th in the NAIA in Offensive RPG with 3.615

– 31st in the NAIA in SPG with 2.077

– 33rd in the NAIA in RPG with 8.923

Burns will be all over the court making plays tonight. It’s just kind of what he does. He is long, athletic and plays HARD! The All-American has had a great career already and he will look to help Loyola get a nice Top 25 win headed into the SSAC Tournament.

– 24th in the NAIA in 3FGM

– 37th in the NAIA in 3FGM per game with 2.905

De’Ron is another former All-American on today’s slate of games. He heads into a big matchup tonight against #24 William Jessup coming off one of his worst shooting performances of the season. Expect a bounce back game tonight!

– 4th in the NAIA in Defensive RPG with 9.0

– 5th in the NAIA in RPG with 11.333

– 6th in the NAIA in Total Rebounds

– 37th in the NAIA in Total AssisTS

– 50th in the NAIA in Total Steals

The All-American comes into this game as one of the top rebounders in the country. He has a huge motor and competes hard! No easy task for him and the Threshers tonight, but you can bet that Jaylon Scott will rise to the challenge!

– 11th in the NAIA in Defensive RPG with 8.143

– 12th in the NAIA in Total Rebounds

– 13th in the NAIA in RPG with 10.333

– 13th in the NAIA in FG% at 63.1%

– 34th in the NAIA in FT% at 84.8%

This is a deep William Penn team and Blaylock kind of quietly goes about his business. He will play all 5 spots on the floor and is an above the rim rebounder. He is coming off of a 16 point, 17 rebound, 7 assists performance and is one of the top players in the NAIA! The battle between him and Jaylon Scott tonight is one to watch!