Classics are a very popular non-conference scheduling tool in the NAIA. There are THREE main neutral court Classics though that have surfaced across the NAIA over the last few years. NAIA ‘The Show’ and Battle at the Beach, happen each year over the Thanksgiving Holiday week and are two classics we covered extensively. The final BIG one of the season, is the Cactus Classic, that is played at Chandler-Gilbert Community College each year and brings in some of the Top teams in the NAIA. This year’s Cactus Classic features 12 teams, from three different states. While it is heavy on Frontier Conference and Golden State Athletic Conference teams, we also see a tough Olivet Nazarene squad, from the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference making the trip to Arizona following their CCAC game tonight! The Cactus Classic gets started with two games on Friday, then four games on Saturday, three games Sunday, five games on Monday and then finishes up with three games on Tuesday, December 20th! We will have coverage all the way through the event and will be updating this page as games are played!
The Field
79.1PPG – 46.0FG% – 32.9FG3% – 39.9RPG – 13.3APG
77.6PPG – 43.5FG% – 36.6FG3% – 34.1RPG – 14.3RPG
82.2PPG – 46FG% – 36.1FG3% – 38.7RPG – 14.8APG
85.6PPG – 50.8FG% – 38.0FG3% – 39.6RPG – 21APG
84.0PPG – 48.6FG% – 33.1FG3% – 40.1RPG – 14.9APG
81.8PPG – 48.4FG% – 39.3FG3% – 42.5RPG – 18.9APG
79.8PPG – 52.2FG% – 31.7FG3% – 37.8RPG – 16.3APG
67.1PPG – 43.5FG% – 35.6FG3% – 28.2RPG – 12.3APG
Montana State University – Northern
82.5PPG – 46.2FG% – 35.1FG3% – 35.8RPG – 18APG
81.8PPG – 46.2FG% – 42FG3% – 35.9RPG – 12.4APG
87.2PPG – 47.7FG% – 40.7FG3% – 37.0RPG – 16.7APG
76.0PPG – 45.8FG% – 31.5FG3% – 36RPG – 11.9APG
Stat Leaders
Top Scorers
Tyler Schmidt (ONU) – 23.3ppg
Garrett White (Vanguard) – 18.7ppg
Kenny Curtis (Providence) – 17ppg
Jalani Horn (HIU) – 16.7ppg
Charles Neal (HIU) 16.3ppg
Top Rebounders
Kyle Lowery (The Master’s) – 10.5rpg
Devin Collins (OUAZ) – 9.4rpg
Josiah De’laCerda (OUAZ) – 8.6rpg
Jake Olsen (Providence) – 7.7rpg
Brendan Temple (Carroll) – 7.7rpg
Top Assist Leaders
Isaac Davis (Vanguard) – 5.2apg
Landon Pflederer (ONU) – 4.9apg
Tyler Schmidt (ONU) – 4.6apg
Brenton Wood (MT Western) – 4.4apg
KeyVaughn Williams (ACU) 4.3apg
This event has some great individual talent as well. We will see who is all healthy still, but here are a few names from each team to keep an eye on:
2021-22 All-Americans
Anthony Johnson (ACU)
Tyler Schmidt (ONU)
Josiah De’laCerda (OUAZ)
Other Top Players To Watch For Each Team
Bryce Davis, Trent Hudgens and Paul Hayden (Arizona Chrisitan)
Andrew Cook, Johnny Hillman and Brendan Temple (Carroll)
Jalani Horn and Charles Neal (Hope International)
Corey Le’aupepe, Patrick Ryan and Kaito Williams (Menlo)
Jesse Keltner and Tanner McCliment-Call (MSU Northern)
Jamal Stephenson, Ky Kouba and Jok Jok (Montana Western)
Keyshawn Bruner and Alex Villi (OUAZ)
Landon Pflederer and Caleb Swearingen (ONU)
Kenny Curtis and Eric Milner (Providence)
Kael Robinson, Jesse Owens, Nick Hart and Kace Kitchell (Rocky Mountain)
Kaleb Lowery, Christian Sweazie, Jordan Caruso and Caden Starr (The Master’s)
Garrett White (Vanguard)
Cactus Classic Schedule
**All Times Are CT
Friday
1PM
3PM
Saturday
1PM
3PM
5PM
7PM
Sunday
1PM
3PM
5PM
Monday
11AM
1PM
3PM
5PM
7PM
Tuesday
1PM
3PM
5PM
One response to “Cactus Classic: December 16th-20th”
Where are the games played for this tournament? I plan on coming to watch and cant find what gym they will be at.