As is the NAIA schedule, we are at this unique/weird part of the season where teams are already starting to play conference games. The NAIA is made up of some really big leagues, so when you shorten the season down to just 28 games, it means that some of those teams that play 24 league games, are already having to fit those games into their schedule.
Games of the Day Recap
Women’s Games
- Maybe got a little too excited about league games here, but two of the three games were close!
- In the first Appalachian Athletic Conference game of the season it was Reinhardt who outscored Union, 21-5 in the 3rd quarter and then held on in the 4th quarter to get the win. They Eagles were led by Julia Kraft with 16 points. Union’s LeAsia Linton had 27 points in the loss.
- Meghan Urbanski hit six 3 pointers as she paced Roosvelt with 26pts in their CCAC opening blowout win. Roosevelt was actually held scoreless for the first three minutes of the game before the floodgates opened up! It’s fun to see some conference action this early though!
- IU Northwest only scored 8 points in the opening quarter, but flipped the scrip in the 2nd quarter by outscoring Judson 18-9. Karli Miller led the way for the Redhawks with 11pts. IU Northwest moves to 1-0 in CCAC play, while Judson falls to 0-1.
Men’s Games
IU Kokomo 68 – IU Northwest 59
- In the battle of the IU affiliates, it was Kokomo who took down Northwest last night 68-59. IU Northwest was picked to finish 3rd in the CCAC preseason polls. They return All-American, Jared Johnson, who Kokomo was able to keep in check all night long. The RedHawks move to 0-2 on the season. Kokomo, who lost their 3 top players from last season, find themselves at 3-0 to start the season. Hunter White, who had 18pts in the win, has really taken over the “Batman” role of this Kokomo squad. As we mentioned a ton last season, the Cougars are just so well coached by Eric Echelbarger.
#10 Georgetown 80 – Park (MO) 69
- Georgetown was able to honor the memory of Remington Williams who passed away earlier this season, with a win in his hometown. This was our first look at Park, who basically has an entire new squad from last season, and they battled tough after getting down by 10pts early in the game. Lucas Kroft hit 4-5 3’s for 19pts in the loss. Georgetown had a balanced attack with five guys in double-figures, with Cam Brooks-Harris leading the way with 15pts in the win. All-American, Kyran Jones did what Kyran Jones does and had 12pts to go with 15rebs for the Tigers.
Vanguard 86 – St. Katherine 66
- Not sure we will get used to watching Vanguard home games that aren’t played in the Pit as Vanguard is playing all of their home games this season at Orange Coast College. This was a really great game through about 25 minutes of this game, but Vanguard went on a 21-7 run in the 2nd half to blow this one open. Isaac Davis exploded for a career-high 27pts while Garrett White added in 22 as the Lions took down the CalPac favorites, St. Katherine.
Other Games of Note
- #19 IU South Bend bounced back with a 85-66 win in the CCAC/CL Challenge. Bethel (IN) gave the CL the split with a 80-55 win over Holy Cross.
- Iowa Wesleyan defeated William Woods, 62-57, to move to 2-1 on the season. Their only loss is a 3pt loss to RV Bellevue!
NAIA News and Notes
- So many great efforts by NAIA’s last night against D1 programs. You can say they are just “exhibitions”, or that the D1’s still won, but fact remains that these games, in the public persona, aren’t supposed to be close games. Yet the NAIA’s are holding their own. We generally get a NAIA over D1 win once or twice a season, there are still plenty of opportunities for that to happen this season.
- There is a great story, in one of those NAIA vs D1 opportunities today, when St. Francis (IN) takes on D1 Indiana. Former IU legend and HOF’er Damon Bradley’s son, Brayton Bradley plays for St. Francis.
- We have several Top 25 matchups left this week, including two, Top 5 showdowns. Saturday features #2 Thomas More hitting the road to take on #5 Indiana Wesleyan. However, it is Friday’s Top 5 showdown, between #1 Arizona Christian and #3 College of Idaho that gets our nod for the NAIA Hoops Report Game of the Week:
- We also are happy to be partnering with Red Banner Roundball on our Bracketology Report this season! We launched the 1st Men’s bracket this morning!
Milestones
- Congrats to WAU Head Coach, Jered Lyons on his 100th career win!
- Circling back to last Friday, congrats to NAIA Player of the Year candidate, Grace Beyer, on scoring her 2,000th career point!
