Unfortunately, Covid is running wild again and causing a lot of teams to either play shorthanded or having to forfeit games. We are also seeing teams trying to find games to make up for games that were cancelled. No matter what your beliefs are on the Covid issues, the fact remains that it continues to have a massive impact on our sport. Hopefully, we will see it subside soon and we won’t see an impact on the NAIA National Championships this year. Nonetheless we push forward and while we seemingly have games postponed/cancelled every day, we are still having some big time games across the NAIA!
- 1.4 Games of the Day Review
- #9 Indiana Wesleyan 77 – #7 Grace 63
- Indiana Wesleyan controlled this game basically from the tip. Grace made runs, but every run was countered by another IWU run. That has been the M O for IWU for some time now. The ability to go on several mini 7-2, 8-3 runs over the course of the game. Many of last nights runs were countered by Spencer Piercefield, who ended up with a game high 23pts last night. They also held Grace to their fewest point total of the season. IWU is now in the drivers seat of the Crossroads League. They have road wins at Marian, at St Francis and now at Grace. They have played the toughest schedule of any team in the CL to-date and to come out of that stretch undefeated is a scary thought for the rest of the CL teams hoping for a CL Regular Season Title.
- #25 Saint Francis 97 – Huntington 87
- Speaking of Crossroads League teams. Saint Francis is starting to find their swag again and it has been on the backs of Antwaan Cushingberry and David Ejah. Cushingberry is the reigning NAIA Player of the Week and over the Cougars 3 game win streak he is averaging 29ppg, 7rpg and 4.3apg. Ejah over the past 3 games is averaging 25ppg, 12rpg. The two are always great, but over the past three games, the two have risen to the challenge and got the Cougars back!
- Union (KY) 84 – rv Tennessee Wesleyan 76
- What a Sophomore duo Union has in 1st Team All-American, Makrell Turner, and 7′ Andre Silva. Turner had a game high 31pts to go with 9assts yesterday while Silva had 8pts, 18rebs and 6blks in the win. The win moves Union into a tie for 1st place with TWU and Bluefield. TWU Djimon Wilson and Ray Taylor with 16pts apiece.
- Paul Quinn 90 – University of Southwest 77
- Paul Quinn remains undefeated on the season and got their first Red River Athletic Conference win in two years last night. After choosing to sit out last season, the Tigers have bounced back strong this season!
- #9 Indiana Wesleyan 77 – #7 Grace 63
- Games to Keep Your Eye on Today:
- CCAC: St Francis @ rv Olivet Nazarene
- KCAC: #4 Oklahoma Wesleyan @ Ottawa and McPherson @ Southwestern
- Heart: MidAmerica Nazarene @ Missouri Valley
- WHAC: Aquinas @ Rochester
- Women’s Game of the Day
- #20 Bryan 83 – Point 58
- Bryan’s dominance over the AAC continued last night with their 73rd straight regular season AAC win. This time it was over a 10-1 Point team that was in 2nd place in the AAC. Gracee Dishman had another big night with 26pts. That is her 7th straight 20pt performance. Bryan will now host Bluefield on Thursday.
- #20 Bryan 83 – Point 58
- NAIA National Players of the Week
