Five Players to Watch
Alex Gross 6’10 Olivet Nazarene
2020-21 1st Team All-American.
21.6ppg, 11.7rpg
High basketball IQ, super skilled big man. One of the best players in the NAIA.
Kevion Blaylock 6’7 William Penn
2020-21 1st Team All-American.
16.7ppg, 10rpg
A bit of a surprise that the Super Senior returned for another year. Explosive athlete that is fun to watch.
Makenzie Fessler 6’4 William Woods
2x All-AMC
13.93ppg, 5.87rpg
Fessler has been a staple in this Owls lineup the past couple years. He will need a big game today for the Owls.
Berto Gittens 6’4 Dakota State
Gittens is new to the NAIA, but he’s an explosive play maker that we have been told is a potential NSAA POY candidate.
#10 Jaden Kleinhesselink 6’2 Briar Cliff
3x All-GPAC
14ppg,4.5rpg
Jaden can get going from all 3 levels. When the three is falling though, he is really tough to stop.
October 22nd Games and Links
| 22 | Wayland Baptist (Texas) | vs. | Bethany (Kan.) | Noon CT | Watch Live | 0-0 |
| Randall University | @ | Oklahoma Panhandle State | 2pm CT | Watch Live | 0-0 | |
| Merritt College | vs. | Pacific Union (Calif.) | 2pm PT | Watch Live | 0-0 | |
| William Penn (Iowa) | vs. | Dordt (Iowa) | 5pm CT | Watch Live | 0-0 | |
| Science & Arts (Okla.) | @ | D2 Oklahoma Baptist University | 5pm CT | Watch Live | 0-0 | |
| Presentation (S.D.) | vs | Doane (Neb.) | 5:30pm CT | Watch Live | 0-0 | |
| Hastings (Neb.) | @ | Sterling (Kan.) | 6pm CT | Watch Live | 0-0 | |
| East-West University | @ | Governors State (Ill.) | 7pm CT | Watch Live | 0-0 | |
| Bellevue (Neb.) | @ | Briar Cliff (Iowa) | 7pm CT | Watch Live | 0-0 | |
| William Woods (Mo.) | @ | Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) | 7:30pm CT | Watch Live | 0-0 | |
| Yellowstone Christian | @ | Montana Western | 6pm MT | Watch Live | ||
| Midland (Neb.) | @ | Dakota State (S.D.) | 7:30pm CT | Watch Live | 0-0 | |
| North American University | @ | Dillard (La.) | 7:30pm CT | Watch Live | 0-0 |
Ray Shovlain Announces Retirement Following 2026–27 Season at St. Ambrose
Ray Shovlain will retire after the 2026–27 season, his 44th leading St. Ambrose. He enters his final season with 749 career victories.
Daily Dive — October 23: Point’s Record Night, Opening-Night Standouts and Darius Miles on Road to Muni
Point hits a school-record 19 threes, new coaches earn their first wins, and Friday brings a loaded viewing slate plus Darius Miles on Road to Muni.
NAIA Hoops Report Daily Dive: Opening Night, Games of the Day, New Coaches Polls and the Road To Muni
Opening night is here: three Games of the Day, Thursday’s schedule, Nelson’s narrow SAC poll lead, the national Top 25, our morning preview and Friday’s Darius Miles announcement.
NAIA Men’s Basketball Watch Guide: October 22–30, 2026
Watch links, channel destinations and Central Time tip-offs for 206 NAIA men’s basketball matchups, October 22–30, with Top 25 and RV labels.
Grace Leads the 2026–27 NAIA Preseason Top 25: Favorites, Conference Counts and State Breakdown
Grace opens No. 1 in the official 2026–27 NAIA preseason Coaches’ Top 25. NHR breaks down the favorites, all 25 teams, 14 conferences, 17 states, poll history and fun facts.
NAIA Hoops Report Daily Dive: October 21 Coaches Poll Roundup, Players to Watch and RSC Media Day
The latest AAC and KCAC coaches polls, AMC and SSAC Players to Watch, Frontier picks, RSC media-day links, IWU’s new arena and Georgia Gwinnett’s reunited Morgan brothers.
