BEST WIN | Florida Memorial
Florida Memorial got a really big win over No. 10 Bethel (IN), 101-81. A once Top 25 team, FloMo had lost back-to-back games to both Faulkner and Indiana Wesleyan. The win over Bethel also sparked a D2 win over Barry University. While that game was an exhibition, Florida Memorial finally was able to find some momentum to end the semester. They are 8-4 headed back into a Sun Conference showdown with No. 18 Ave Maria on January 4th!
UPSET | UNT-Dallas
We had our 4th NAIA team knock off a D1 this past week as UNT-Dallas went to Rice and knocked them off 69-68. Even as an exhibition game, for UNT-Dallas, this still counts on Rice’s record. With it being the 4th time this season, that a NAIA has knocked off a D1, it is important to keep highlighting the games. UNT-Dallas is just in it’s 5th year in existence. Their head coach is former NBA player, Josh Howard. The Trailblazers were led by Greg Crawford with 17pts. Vernon Johnson, who is the programs 1st ever 1k scorer, made the final 3 FT’s to get the win. He finished with 13pts.
OFFFENSE | Lawrence Tech (MI)
Lawrence Tech has won 6-straight games, including two this past week. They knocked off Rochester Christian 100-80 and then followed that up with a win over Madonna, 98-93. Both wins were on the road.
vs Rochester Christian | 100pts, 34-59 (57.6) and 14-27 from 3 (51.9%). 16assts on 34 made shots. They placed 4 players in double figures with three players scoring 20+ (Jimmy Salamone 25pts, Andrew Rinn 22pts, Cameron McEvans 20pts).
vs Madonna | 98pts, 32-60 (53.3%) and 14-29 from 3 (48.3%). 13 assts on 32 made shots. Four guys in double figures. Cameron McEvans (26pts) and Jimmy Salamone (22pts) led the way.
DEFENSE | College of Idaho
Last week the Yotes got the Offensive nod, this week they get the Defensive nod as they went 2-0 with two road Cascade Conference wins. They first knocked off Walla Walla, 106-58. Then followed that up with a 85-69 win over No. 15 Lewis-Clark State. On the season, The Yotes are 4th in the NAIA in NET EFF, and 14th in the NAIA in DEF EFF rating. They are 6th in opponent FG% (37.5) and in 3FG% (32.4). They are also 12th in Def rebounds per game (20.6) and are 14th in Rebounding Margain at 9.0rpg.
vs Walla Walla | 58pts on 34.5% from the field. Forced Walla Walla into 24 turnovers.
vs LCSC | 69pts on 50% from the field, but just 35% from 3. Forced LCSC into 8 turnovers. Held Alton Hamilton to just 4-12 from the field for 8pts and just 4rebs.
COACH OF THE WEEK | Jeff Rutter, Arizona Christian
Coach Jeff Rutter is already one of the best coaches in the NAIA. However, what he has done with ACU this year is pretty amazing. Not because they came from nowhere, they have been ranked in every poll this season. What makes this season insane, is the miles they have already traveled and the wins they have already manufactured to go 12-2 on the season. ACU has wins in FIVE different states with wins ranging from California to Florida. They knocked off previously ranked Oregon Tech on their home floor. They have beaten RV Rocky Mountain on their home floor. They also beat both CUNE and No. 14 Morningside this past week in a GPAC sweep. Those two wins moved them to 3-1 on the week. The one loss was to No. 6 Montana Tech, 69-75. The only other loss they have on the season is to No. 3 Freed-Hardeman. They have played the last four games without All-American PG Trent Hudgens as well. Something they may be doing for rest of season, unfortunately. They will enter GSAC play at 12-2 on the year. They host BenU-Mesa on January 4th before a Top 10 showdown with The Master’s, in California on January 8th!
STOCK UP | St. Mary’s Woods (IN)
The Woods lost their first two games of the season to Trinity Christian and IU Northwest. They have riffled off 11-straight wins since. Their schedule does get tougher as they enter River States Conference play in early January. For now though, 11-straight wins is the 4th best win streak in the country. The three teams ahead of them are all undefeated and ranked inside the Top 25.
STOCK UP | WVU Tech
Tech has won 8-straight games, including going 2-0 this past week. They picked up a win over Kentucky Christian 95-50 and then followed it up with a 79-74 win over No. 19 Pikeville. WVU Tech has only two losses on the season. The first was to Pikeville on the road and the 2nd loss was to No. 1 Georgetown, 62-68.
STOCK FALLING | Bethel (IN)
The Pilots, who were just in our Stock Up section a couple weeks back, had a rough trip to Florida as they fell to both Ave Maria (94-82) and Florida Memorial (101-81). Even in the Ave Maria game they found themselves down 20pts at one point. The Pilots do have some players returning soon, so that will help give them a boost!
GAME OF THE WEEK | Taylor defeats IU East, 121-115 in 2OT!
We actually had a few 2OT games this week, but the Taylor vs IU East game was a doozey. Regulation ended with five straight 3pt shots made. Overtime number 1, saw 5 more lead changes and 3 ties. The final OT was Taylor finally getting the upper hand. The stat lines went as bonkers as the game did. Anton Webb had 41pts, 19rebs, 9assts, 2blks. Webb would go on to be the leading scorer, at any level, in the World that day! Izaiah Day also chipped in 23pts, 3rebs, 3assts, 3stls for Taylor. For IU East, they saw 3 playrs go for 24+ pts. Kyle Tolbert had 24pts 7rebs, 4assts, 2stls off the bench. Starters, Antuane Allen (35pts, 7rebs, 5assts, 6stls) and Jake Johnson (30pts, 7rebs, 8assts, 2stls) both had impressive stat lines as well! The two team also combined for 33 made 3’s combining to shoot 47% from downtown!
ONIONS | Carlos Hines, Peru State
Peru State hit the road this past week for a tough road contest at Central Methodist. The game itself was really good and ended with this Carlos Hines bucket, off a really nice SOB set by Peru State!
PLAYER OF THE WEEK | Kaleb Lowery, The Master’s
The 2x NAIA All-American was really good, again, this week in three games at the Cactus Classic. He is currently averaging 17.4ppg, 10.6rpg, 2.4apg. The 6’8 Forward is also shooting 52% from the field and 47% from 3! This past week he averaged 20.7ppg, 10.3rpg while shooting 59% from the field and 53% from 3!!
vs Montana Western | 27pts, 8rebs, 2assts, 1 blk, 1 stl. Shot 69% from the field while hitting 4-7 3’s.
vs Montana State – Northern | 21pts, 13rebs, 2assts, 2blks, 1stl. Shot 53% from the field, 5-8 from 3.
vs No. 6 Montana Tech | 14pts, 10rebs, 1asst, 2stls, 1blk. 50% from the field, 1-4 from 3.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK | Jamal Gibson, SUNO
Last year we had him as our Sophomore of the Week, this week he gets our Defensive POW. Jamal was tremendous, once again, as he nearly put up a 30/30 game against Stillman. Gibson finished with 30pts and 27rebs, 18 of which were defensive. The game before it, against Oakwood, Gibson went for 20rebs, 14 of which were defensive. Even in their 10pt loss to D1 Northwestern State, Gibson had 11rebs with 8 being on the defensive side. He also added in 6 blocks and 5 steals on the week as well.
RODMAN PLAYER OF THE WEEK | Guillermo Narbona, St. Ambrose
This is an award based off of former NAIA player, Dennis Rodman, and his rebounding and defensive efforts. We mostly look for players who have a big rebounding output with a small scoring production.
This week’s Rodman Award goes to Guillermo Narbona of St. Ambrose. In their CCAC matchup with CCSJ, Guillermo put up 1pt to go with 11rebs, 3assts, and 2stls. He did follow those games up with 9pts/9rebs against MoBap and then 10pts 13rebs against Judson.
SOPHOMORE OF THE WEEK | Caedmon Bontrager, Indiana Wesleyan
The reigning Crossroads League Freshman of the Year is making his claim for Crossroads League POY this season! He is averaging 22.2ppg and 6.5rpg. On the Wildcats Florida trip, this past week, Bontrager put up 11pts, 6rebs, 1asst, 1stl and 1blk against Florida Memorial and then went for 26pts, 3rebs, 4blks, 2stls in their win vs St. Thomas.
FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK | Quincy Phillips, The Master’s (CA)
The Master’s always seems to have themselves a really good Freshman and they found another good one in Quincy Phillips out of St. Anthony HS in Long Beach, California. So far this season, Quincy is averaging 12.8ppg, 2.7rpg, 1.7apg. He has four games with 20+pts on the season already. This past week, in the Cactus Classic, Quincy played really well once again.
vs Montana Western (MT) | 9pts, 2rebs, 2assts
vs Montana State – Northern | 20pts, 3rebs, 2assts, 1stl, 1blk
vs No. 6 Montana Tech | 15pts, 4rebs, 1asst
DUNK OF THE WEEK | Thai Elder, Missouri Baptist
We made a late swap on this one. But it was worth it as Thai Elder slams it home for the And 1 poster!
