KANSAS CITY, Mo. – [
BRACKET] The 2023 NAIA Men’s Basketball National Championship, presented by Ballogy, first round left one CCC team standing.
College of Idaho def. Westcliff University 78-61
CALDWELL Idaho – No. 1 College of Idaho had one of its toughest tests to date in the first round of the NAIA National Tournament as the Yotes prevailed with a 78-61 win over No. 16 seed Westcliff. They extended four significant streaks with the win – 31 consecutive wins on the season, 36 at home, 13 by double digits, and seven in the NAIA First Round. The Yotes managed to shoot 46.6% from the field as four players scored in double figures with Jake O’Neil scoring a team-high 16. The last CCC men's basketball team standing will play Xavier University of Louisiana on the Coyote's home court tomorrow night at 6:00 p.m. (MST).
Coyote Racap
Thomas More University def. Eastern Oregon University 66-44
BUTTE, Mont. – Eastern Oregon traveled to Butte, Mont. for its first NAIA Tournament appearance since 2017. Matched up with the No. 24 team in the nation, Thomas More University, the Mountaineers couldn't overcome a rocky start falling to the Saints, 66-44. EOU finished their best season in recent years with a record of 21-11 finishing second in the CCC regular season and tournament.
Mountaineers Recap
Langston University def. Southern Oregon University 81-64
LANGSTON, Okla. – The athleticism of No. 5-ranked Langston University was as problematic as advertised on both ends of the floor for Southern Oregon in Tuesday night's NAIA Men's Basketball National Championship Round of 64. The raiders ended their season to the Lions in an 81-64 loss.
Raider Recap
Arizona Christian University def. Corban University 61-59
GLENDALE, Ariz. – For over half of tonight's NAIA Opening Round matchup, the No. 16-seeded Corban University Men's Basketball team had the No. 2-ranked team in the country on the ropes, and nearly pulled off one of the greatest First Round upsets in the history of the tournament, as the Warriors fell in the closing minutes to the No. 1-seeded Arizona Christian University Firestorm after offensive fouls and questionable shot selections finally caught up to them in a 61-59 postseason defeat.
Warrior Recap