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North Texas: 2022-23 National Invitation Tournament Champions
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Kai Huntsberry scored 14 of his 21 points in the first half, Tylor Perry scored 14 of his 20 after halftime and North Texas beat fellow Conference USA foe UAB 68-61 on Thursday night to claim the program's first NIT championship.
It was the fourth NIT championship game to feature conference opponents — and the first in 20 years. Conference USA is now 18-2 in the NCAA postseason — with Charlotte winning the College Basketball Invitational title and FAU advancing to the Final Four.
Perry, the conference player of the year and NIT MVP, made a steal and a 3-pointer on a fast break to give North Texas the lead for good at 55-53 with 6:22 remaining. Aaron Scott extended it to 61-55 after making a high-arching layup and a jumper.
UAB guard Jordan Walker was fouled on a 3-pointer with 1:48 remaining and he made two free throws to get within 63-59. North Texas had two shots on its next possession after an offensive rebound and Perry sank a jumper.
After UAB made two more free throws with 49.6 seconds left, Perry dribbled down the clock and hit a step-back jumper, with a foot on the 3-point line, for a 68-61 lead. UAB missed a 3-pointer and Huntsberry was fouled at 13.2 before securing it at the line.
North Texas won its second NCAA postseason championship under sixth-year head coach Grant McCasland. The Mean Green won the 2018 CBI title in his first season in Denton.
Scott finished with 13 points and seven rebounds for North Texas (31-7), which set a program record for wins in a season.
Walker scored 21 points on 6-of-14 shooting for UAB (29-10), which was in the NIT title game for the first time in program history. KJ Buffen added 11 points.
Javian Davis converted a three-point play with 12:43 left in the second half for UAB's first lead, 47-45, since it was 15-14. The Mean Green scored 22 of the first 30 second-half points.
It was the fourth meeting of the season between the teams — with North Texas winning two regular-season meetings before a matchup in the conference tournament semifinals.
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AP March Madness coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness and bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-mens-bracket and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25
Nova Southeastern: 2022-23 NCAA Division II Men's Basketball Champions
Finally. After years of coming close, coach Jim Crutchfield is a DII men’s basketball national champion as the Sharks are champions for the first time in program history. Nova Southeastern defeated West Liberty, 111-101, in the highest scoring championship game in history and one of the more memorable title games in the history of the division.
Nova Southeastern becomes the sixth undefeated champion in DII men’s basketball history. The Sharks also became just the second team to score 100 points in the championship game, joining Virginia Union’s 1992 championship team. The 111 points are not only the new DII championship game record, but the most points scored in any college basketball championship game, men's or women's.
The storylines heading into this game were bountiful. Nova Southeastern head coach Jim Crutchfield became just the third DII men’s basketball coach to take two different programs to the championship game. The other team? The squad staring him down on the other side of the court. He led West Liberty to a national runners-up finish in 2014 when current head coach Ben Howlett was his assistant.
This was the first time the two top scoring teams faced each other in the DII men’ s basketball championship game. And the two teams certainly filled the bill. The first half went to Nova Southeastern, which came out of the high-scoring half with a 55-48 lead, the most combined points in the first half of a DII men’s basketball championship game. Bevo Francis finalist RJ Sunahara came out on fire, scoring nine of the first 15 points of the game and finishing the half with 20 as the Sharks set the DII championship game record for most first half points.
West Liberty was a bit apprehensive at first and it took about 10 minutes to get comfortable and knock the jitters out. Bryce Butler, another Bevo Francis finalist, was held to just one shot in the first 10 minutes of the game, and the Hilltoppers need him going to get that high-octane motor rolling.
Dallas Graziani provided a spark for the Sharks when West Liberty pulled it close, hitting a pair of big 3s and getting fouled on a third attempt. A pretty lob that Sunahara finished off with a dunk certainly helped keep the momentum going. But the half ended in a scoring flurry from the suddenly hot Hilltoppers and Sharks. Step back 3s that hit nothing but net from Zach Rasile and Will Yoakum — who had a monster first half himself — were exchanged like blows in a heavyweight match to close the half in one of the most exciting minutes of play all season. The two teams combined to go 13 for 26 from behind the arc in the first half.
And that was just the first half. Act II was equally intense.
The second half was much more physical, with a pair of flagrant fouls from West Liberty in about four minutes to start the half. Every point was earned, as bodies hit the floor on every drive, with neither team wanting to relent and more than 50 combined fouls between the two teams.
But even that couldn’t stop these high-flying offenses.
Butler was sensational in the loss and played hard to the final whistle, almost single handedly keeping the Hilltoppers in the game. He sparked a late 11-2 run that brought the Hilltoppers in striking distance. He finished with 32 points on 11-for-19 shooting and nine rebounds. Chris Montague had a big day from 3, going 5 for 7 from behind the arc and finishing with 19.
Inevitably, there was too much foul trouble for West Liberty to overcome. Yoakum, who found himself in foul trouble early in the second half, was used as a free throw specialist, and finished with 31 points, capping a brilliant postseason with his third 30-point game in his final four tries. Sunahara fouled out, but still finished with 28 points and nine rebounds. Graziani’s engine never stopped, finishing with 24 points and nine assists.
It was a thrilling game from start to finish, one that there were no ties or lead changes. The top two offenses in the land delivered one of the most memorable performances in DII Men's Elite Eight history, and the Sharks walk away the winners of the 2023 national championship.
Christopher Newport: 2022-23 NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Champions
FORT WAYNE, IN. - Christopher Newport University's first trip to the National Championship game will be remembered as a classic, as junior Trey Barber scored on a driving layup as time expired to give the Captains a 74-72 victory over Mount Union. CNU finished the year with a 30-3 record, and the remarkable victory in the title game was the 15th straight for the Captains.
Barber led four Christopher Newport players in double figures, scoring 25 points on ten-of-15 shooting. Barber also topped the team with ten rebounds, and was selected the Most Valuable Player of the Final Four. Junior Jahn Hines was also selected to the All-Tournament squad, scoring 18 points and pulling down six rebounds with four assists. Fifth-year senior Matthew Brodie and sophomore Caleb Furr also reached double digits, scoring 12 points in the title game.
"This is about our program and all the people who are a part of it, and have been a part of it in the past," Head Coach John Krikorian said during the post-game celebration. "We have a rich history and so many have contributed to it. I was thinking so much about our long-time coach C.J. Woollum, who hired me, and I heard from our program's first coach, Bev Vaughan, today. It was like they were both with us on our bench tonight. We had so many of our former players with us here tonight. I can't tell you how much this means."
The Captains found themselves behind for much of the game and had to mount yet another comeback to claim the championship. CNU trailed at halftime in nine games this season, and came from behind to win them all, including Saturday's Championship game. The Purple Raiders went on a 9-0 run in the opening minutes to take a 9-2 lead and then stretched their advantage to as many as 14 with 5:10 to play in the first half, 26-12. CNU used a 14-3 run to close out the half, and trailed by just three at the break, 29-26. The second half saw Mount Union push the lead to as many as ten, 45-35, with 13:55 to play.
Christopher Newport would then begin a stretch that saw them out-score the Raiders, 39-27, the rest of the way, culminating with Barber's buzzer-beater for the victory. CNU took its first lead of the second half when Barber knocked down a free throw with 8:38 remaining to put the Captains up, 50-49. CNU would extend the lead to as many as seven, 65-58, on a Barber layup with 3:58 to go. The Purple Raiders would not go away, and would briefly jump back in front, 70-69, with 17 seconds remaining on a layup from All-American Christian Parker. The Captains answered quickly when sophomore Ty Henderson scored on a fastbreak jumper in the lane, and was fouled in the process. His free throw to complete the three-point play gave Christopher Newport a 72-70 edge.
The final possession for each team resulted in a fantastic conclusion to the hard-fought battle. Mount Union tied the game with four seconds left on the clock when Parker scored on a jumper in the paint to even things at 72-72. But in the waning seconds after Mount Union had pulled even, Barber rumbled down the court and provided the spectacular finish by scoring on a driving layup to end the game.
"I really don't remember what happened," Barber admitted. "They had scored and I got the ball and saw the rim and went to it. It's an amazing feeling." Barber and Hines, who both had been named All-American earlier in the day by D3hoops.com, combined to score 43 points and pull down 16 rebounds.
The buzzer-beating shot by Braber to end the game was reviewed by the officiating crew to verify it had come before the horn sounded.
"Trey and Jahn were just amazing again," Krikorian continued. "But we had a lot of guys come through in big moments. Caleb Furr hit some really big threes for us, and Matt Brody was big in the second half. Our defense was key as it usually is, and we did just enough to win the game. I really feel for Mount Union, they're a great team and competed at such a high level all season."
Mount Union finished the year with the same record as the Captains, 30-3, and Saturday's battle was the first meeting ever of the programs. Parker, also named All-American Saturday by D3hoops.com, led the Purple Raiders with 31 points and 14 rebounds. The Captains out-rebounded the Raiders, 47-41, and committed just nine turnovers. In two games at Allen County War Memorial Coliseum, the Captains turned the ball over just 13 times.
"This is such a unique group of guys," Krikorian said. "They love to play the game and get after it. Most of the time, I tried to stay out of their way, and give them what they needed to succeed as best I could. They took what had happened in the past, like losing last year at Marietta in the Elite 8, and losing at Randolph-Macon this year and they learned from it and remembered it and used it to their advantage. Their hard work paid off and I'm so happy for them."
College of Idaho: 2022-23 NAIA Men's Basketball Champions
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – It took 27 years and a thrilling final 20 minutes of basketball for College of Idaho to earn its second national title. The Yotes held Indiana Tech off just long enough to complete its task and earn a 73-71 victory to hoist the coveted red banner.
College of Idaho did what it has done all season and started off the game red hot. The Yotes took control early and broke-off a 19-4 run to get things started. While the offense was impressive, the defense was just as. One of the top five in average defensive scoring margin in the 2023 NAIA National Championship field, the team from Caldwell, Idaho held the Warriors to six points in the first eight minutes, which set the tone.
The Yotes led by as much as 21 points in the first half as Tyler Robinett led the way. The sophomore was three-for-three from three-point range and led all scorers with nine points. Charles Elzie finished the opening frame with seven as Indiana Tech was able to cut the deficit to 19 before the break. Indiana Tech was held to just over 35 percent from the floor and went 1-7 from the free throw line.
Just 24 hours earlier, Indiana Tech erased a 16-point deficit, 11 at the half on their way to a win over Georgetown. On Saturday night, the Warriors looked to do the same and within minutes, began to cut into the lead.
Down by as many as 23 with just over 16 minutes to play, the Warriors put together a 10-2 run to begin climbing back. By the 12:01 mark, Rog Stein knocked-down a three-ball to put Indiana Tech within 13. Three and a half minutes later, the lead was down to 10 as College of Idaho called a timeout to try to end the momentum.
Indiana Tech climbed all the way back as the time continued to wind down. While College of Idaho was able to keep the Warriors at bay for the most part, they finally began to break through in the closing minutes.
The team from Fort Wayne brought it all the way back to within four, thanks in large part to the 18 points provided by Rog Stein, but came just short of repeating the magic of one night ago in the closing seconds.
Jake O’Neil led the Yotes with 15 points and 12 rebounds. Samaje Morgan added 13 points and Tyler Robinett chipped-in 11. In the end, however, it was Charles Elzie that was named the Chuck Taylor Tournament MVP for his outstanding performance throughout. The junior finished final site play with 67 points.
For Indiana Tech, bot Blake Davidson and Max Perez finished with 12 points while Josh Cline recorded 11 to round out the scorers in double digits, along with Stein’s 18.
College of Idaho finished the season on a 36-game win streak after suffering just one loss in the first game of the season to Arizona Christian.
Following the game, the All-Tournament Team was announced:
All-Tournament Team
Charles Elzie – College of Idaho
Samaje Morgan – College of Idaho
Tyler Robinett – College of Idaho
Rog Stein – Indiana Tech
Josh Kline – Indiana Tech
Jake Ohmer – Georgetown (Ky.)
Kyran Jones – Georgetown (Ky.)
Josiah De’laCerda – OUAZ (Ariz.)
Kolten Hitt – OUAZ (Ariz.)
Elijah Malone – Grace (Ind.)
Charles Stevenson Hustle Award
Grant Smith – Indiana Tech
Chuck Taylor Most Valuable Player
Charles Elzie – College of Idaho
Charles A. Krigel Sportsmanship Award
Kyle Blankenship - LSU Shreveport (La.)
NAIA MBB Coach of the Year
Colby Blaine – College of Idaho
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