KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A pair of upsets in the final two games highlighted a thrilling day of action at the 2021 NAIA Men’s Basketball National Championship. After No. 13-seeded Jamestown (N.D.) defeated No. 4 Faulkner (Ala.) 88-83, the Bethel Pilots played giant-killers after knocking-off conference foe, No. 1 Indiana Wesleyan in the nightcap.
No. 9 St. Francis (Ind.) def. No. 8 Stillman (Ala.), 69-67
No. 5 Shawnee State (Ohio) def. No. 12 Bethel (Kan.), 69-59
No. 13 Jamestown (N.D.) def. No. 4 Faulkner (Ala.), 88-83
No. 16 Bethel (Ind.) def. No. 1 Indiana Wesleyan, 83-77
News and Notes
Game 1 – St. Francis (Ind.) def. Stillman (Ala.), 69-67
Stillman – No. 8 (Naismith)
4th overall national tournament appearance (First appearance as an NAIA member in the Round of 16)
Ranked No. 7 in the NAIA with 14.1 offensive rebounds per game prior to today’s contest
Despite the loss, Stillman won the rebounding battle with a hefty 42-26 advantage
The reserves for the Tigers outscored the St. Francis bench, 16-6
Every Stillman athlete that played scored at least five points, with eight players scoring six or more
Roger Davis led the Tigers with 16 points on a 6-for-13 showing from the floor, followed by Devin Merriweather’s 15 points (6-for-14 from the field)
Virgil Fields led all competitors on the glass with 12 rebounds (3 offensive)
St. Francis – No. 9 (Naismith)
13th overall appearance
The Cougars have now won nine of their last ten games, dating back to Feb. 3
Forced 22 turnovers for the Tigers while only committing nine of their own
Currently leads the NAIA with 352 three-pointers on the season and ranks 2nd with 550 assists on the season
St. Francis notched seven shots from beyond the arc while limiting Stillman to just three from long distance
Antwaan Cushingberry led all scorers with 28 points after a 50 percent showing from the field
Jalan Mull and David Ejah also finished in double figures with 13 and 10 points, respectively
Game 2 – No. 5 Shawnee State (Ohio) def. No. 12 Bethel (Kan.), 69-
Shawnee State – No. 5 (Cramer)
Currently riding a 24-game winning streak, dating back to Dec. 5
EJ Onu led all scorers en route to a triple-double performance: 29 points, 10 blocks, 10 rebounds
Less than 10 athletes have posted 10 blocks or more throughout the entire men’s basketball tournament since 2006-07
James Jones added 17 points, followed by Donovan Carlisle who chipped in with 11 points
Finished shooting 38.2 percent from the field, 22.7 percent from long range, and 85.7 percent from the free throw line
Bethel – No. 12 (Cramer)
First Round of 16 appearance
Had eight players score in the contest, led by Clifford Byrd II with 16 points
Jaylon Scott recorded his 19th double-double of the season with a 10 point, 10 rebound showing. Nick Bonner and Bryant Mocaby also notched 10 points each
Tavaughn Flowers led the Threshers with six assists
Shot 28.2 percent from the floor, 20.7 percent from beyond the arc, and 68.4 percent from the charity stripe
Game 3 – No. 13 Jamestown (N.D.) def. No. 4 Faulkner (Ala.), 88-83
Faulkner – No. 4 (Cramer)
12th appearance (now 11-10 all-time at nationals)
This was the first trip to Municipal for the squad since March 2016
C.J. Williamson led all scorers on the night with a 28 point performance and added 10 rebounds
Jordan Hamlette poured in 23 points on a 10-for-16 showing
Austin Rogers (12 points) and Garrett Sanderson (11 points) also finished in double figures
Faulkner won the turnover battle after committing nine and forcing 19
The Eagles shot 50 percent from the field, 35.7 percent from the three-point line, and 66.7 from the charity stripe
Jamestown – No. 13 (Cramer)
11th appearance (now 7-10 all-time at nationals)
Mason Walters and Marc Kjos each poured in 26 points
Walters notched a double-double after grabbing 12 rebounds
Will Cordes also finished in double figures with 12 points
The Jimmies got hot from distance and knocked down 13 three-pointers (eight from Kjos)
Won the rebounding battle at a 36-28 margin
Shot 55 percent from the floor, 48.3 percent from beyond the arc, and 80 percent from the free throw line
Game 4 – No. 16 Bethel (Ind.) def. No. 1 Indiana Wesleyan, 83-77
Indiana Wesleyan – No. 1 (Naismith)
14th appearance (31-9 all0time record at nationals)
Won the battle of the boards with a 47-38 advantage
Kyle Mangas led the Wildcats with 22 points and six assists
Seth Maxwell chimed in with a 16 point, 14 rebound double-double performance while also adding four blocks
Dylan Alderson rounded out the double figure performers with 13 points
The Wildcats recorded seven blocked shots and had eight scorers in the game
Finished shooting 426. percent from the field, 35.7 percent from the three-point line, and 81.8 percent from the charity stripe
Bethel – No. 16 (Naismith)
17th appearance (32-13 all-time record at nationals)
Just the 7th time since 1957 that the No. 1 seed has lost in the first round of the final site
TreVion Crews led the way with 29 points, seven assists, and six rebounds
Jared DeHart (20 points) and Jani Griffith (10 points) also notched double digit performances
Only committed six turnovers while forcing 17, outscoring the Wildcats 25-7 in the points off turnovers column
Shot 41 percent from the floor, 35 percent from beyond the arc, and 70.6 percent from the free throw line
