OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – The National Christian Collegiate Athletic Association (NCCAA) Division II Southwest Regional Tournament begins Wednesday, November 23 and will go through Saturday, November 26. Kansas Christian College is the host site for both the men's and women's basketball tournaments.
The first round of the men's tournament began at 12 p.m. on Wednesday. The first round of the women's will be Thursday, Nov. 24. Both semifinal rounds will happen Friday, Nov. 25, and then the Championship Games will be Saturday, Nov. 26.
View Complete Men's Bracket
Tournament Information
Dallas Christian College men's basketball plays in the 5 p.m. slot against top-seeded Manhattan Christian College out of the North Division. The Crusaders are the fourth seed out of the South Division, and qualified after
a thrilling 87-82 victory on Monday night over Randall University.
The Crusaders are 6-14 overall and 6-6 against Southwest Regional opponents. This includes 4-4 during marked south divisional games. While the Crusaders have not appeared in the NCCAA DII Top 10 Rankings or Power Ratings this season, they have earned wins against No. 9 Champion Christian University and RV Southwestern Adventist University (RV- Receiving Votes). DCC also had two tough matchups with No. 6 Arlington Baptist this spring semester.
DCC will have to figure out how to win away from the friendly confines, where it went 4-0 in February with wins over regional foes. The team is 2-8 on the road, but did pull out an overtime win at Ozark Christian College and are coming off a double-digit win at Randall University.
The Crusaders have not played Kansas Christian College or at its home site this season. It will be the first time in this gym for the current roster, as DCC has not played KCC on the road since at least the 2017-18 campaign (last available records). Should the Crusaders earn an upset on Wednesday, they would play the winner of Champion Christian and Kansas Christian on Friday.
Manhattan Christian was ranked No. 2 in the latest rankings released on Tuesday. The Thunder are 22-7 overall and have won 10 straight games. This includes winning the Midwest Christian College Conference (MCCC) last Saturday. The teams met on December 1, 2021 in Manhattan, where the Thunder won 79-60. They grabbed a 10-point lead at halftime and were in control the entire time. However, the lineup is much different now and DCC is playing its hottest basketball of the season, winning six of its last eight games against NCCAA Division II schools.
THE STARTING 5
KEYS TO THE GAME
- Make shots: The Crusaders are known for its high-pace play and will need to utilize pressure defense to create fastbreak opportunities. Hitting some three-pointer will help
- Aggressive on the Glass: Do not let the listed heights fool you. Joseph Allen ranks 4th in the NCCAA with 35 blocked shots (1.8). The 6-4 forward had a streak of 16 games and has matched a season-high four in a game several times, including exhibitions.
- Help on the Bench: The DCC starting unit will need support from the reserves. Micah Tucker, Caleb Willis, Jalen Perez, Jordan Harris, and Kyle-Jared Malarchar all should see time. DCC doesn't need big numbers from any individual, but all have made key plays during this second half stretch run and will be needed.
SHOW TIME
Good luck Crusaders, we are rooting for you back in Dallas.
"Dallas Christian educates and mentors students to be people of influence engaging in their calling to the work of Christ in the church and in the world."
