National Tournament Look Back

By Kyle Kuhlman/OCCAC Sports Information

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio – With college basketball officially in the books for 2017-18, here’s a quick look at how the Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC) fared in the National Junior College Athletic Association’s National Tournaments.

OWENS EXPRESS
Women’s Basketball | NCJAA D-II | Advanced to Quarterfinals

First Round | Owens def. Union County, 82-64
Quarterfinals | Mesa def. Owens, 70-68
5^th-Place Semifinals | Illinois Central def. Owens, 68-62

Owens wrapped up 2017-18 with an overall mark of 26-6 and a run to the national quarterfinals. The sophomores conclude their Owens career with a combined record of 57-7 and two OCCAC regular season titles.

FINAL BRACKET
VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS
PHOTOS

CUYAHOGA CHALLENGERS
Men’s Basketball | NCJAA D-II | Seventh Place

First Round | Arkansas State Mid-South def. Cuyahoga, 83-68
Consolation First Round | Cuyahoga def. South Suburban, 73-52
Consolation Second Round | Cuyahoga def. Southern Maryland, 91-68
7^th-Place Game | Cuyahoga def. Grand Rapids, 105-50

Cuyahoga rattled off 32 wins by season’s end, a year which included a 15-1 conference mark to claim the OCCAC championship. The OCCAC Player of the Year, Quintin Dove, performed admirably in the postseason as well. He was named to the All-Tournament Team for his efforts.

FINAL BRACKET
VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS
PHOTOS

COLUMBUS STATE COUGARS
Men’s Basketball | NCJAA D-III | Third Place

Quarterfinals | Columbus State def. Herkimer, 91-76
Semifinals | Brookdale def. Columbus State, 109-79
3^rd-Place Game | Columbus State def. Montgomery, 97-97

Columbus State finished the season 20-10 overall and placed third in the school’s first trip to the NJCAA D-III National Tournament after participating three times at the D-II level. Mario Young posted his 13^th double-double of the year in the third-place game victory over Montgomery and ultimately earned All-Tournament Team honors.

FINAL BRACKET
VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS