SCU Sports
Matt Stephens, Sports Information Director
WINONA LAKE, Ind. – Southwestern Christian University fell 85-65 to Emmanuel (Ga.) in the championship game of the NCCAA Division I Men’s Basketball National Championship Saturday at the Manahan Orthopaedic Capital Center.
The top-seeded Eagles (20-15) saw their quest for a fifth NCCAA men’s basketball championship fall short when they ran into a scorching-hot Emmanuel team that hit nine 3-pointers in the first half and outscored SCU 55-27 in the opening period.
SCU managed to cut its halftime deficit to as few as 14-points in the second half, but ran out of time on the season.
Second-seeded Emmanuel hit 11 3-pointers, scored 17 points off turnovers and got 31 bench points on the afternoon. The Eagles were outrebounded for the first time in the national tournament 32-26.
Casey Cole led SCU with 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting from the field. The senior played 23 minutes and was perfect from the free-throw line.
Fredd Richardson III followed with 14 points, two rebounds and two steals off the bench. Richardson shot 5-for-9 and made his only 3-point attempt.
Austin Lobo added 12 points and a team-high eight rebounds on the afternoon. Lobo made a season-high four 3-pointes and also finished with two steals.
David Beasley pitched in with seven points and two boards in 11 minutes off the bench.
Victor Diaz followed with six points and three rebounds.
Cole averaged 14.6 points per game during the NCCAA tourney and found his way on to the all-Tournament Team.
All-Tournament Team
C: Casey Cole, Southwestern Christian University
F: JubrilOsagie, Central Christian College of Kansas
F:Niquan Cousins, Bluefield College
F: Andre Horne, Mid-America Christian University
F/G: Kendrick Colvin, Emmanuel College