ROUND ONE PREVIEW: No. 12 @MUCrusadersMBB set to make history

WHEN: Wednesday, March 11; doors open at 6:15 p.m.

WHERE: MU Activities Center

COST: Free for all

WHAT: A chance to cheer on the Crusaders at the national tournament with fellow fans. Free pizza, cookies, refreshments, and giveaways will be available. Outside food and beverage is allowed. Fans are encouraged to visit Chipotle and mention Madonna University Sports Medicine prior to the game to help support the athletic trainers during National Athletic Training month. 

WHEN: Wednesday, March 11 at 6:45 p.m.

WHERE: Sanford Pentagon - Sioux Falls, S.D.

TICKETS: Tickets can be purchased here

HOW TO WATCH: The NAIA Network (www.NAIANetwork.com) – the association’s official video streaming home – will broadcast the first 30 games leading up to the championship final on ESPN3. The video platform, powered by Stretch Internet, allows users to access video, statistics, and social interaction on a number of devices, including mobile. Single-day passes can be purchased for $9.95, while an all-tournament package is available at $34.95.

SERIES HISTORY: This is the first ever meeting between the Cougars and the Crusaders.

Madonna earned the second automatic bid in the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference as they won the conference tournament for the second time in program history with a 79-71 win over Cornerstone University on March 2. 

Henry Speight paced the Crusaders with 19 points and 12 rebounds, his second consecutive double-double which ties him with Mark Mettie for the team lead with seven. Dwight Burton added 16 points, Mettie had 15 points and 10 boards while Joshua Reynolds (14) and Caleb Drumm (10) also scored in double figures.

The Cougars earned an at-large bid to the tournament after losing in the River States Conference Championship against Indiana University East on March 3. Akil McClain led the Cougars with 22 points while DeSean Hampton scored 15 and grabbed 18 rebounds. Trequan Spivey also netted double-figures with 14.

The Blue and Gold enter the tournament on a high note having won five straight and 9-of-10. Led by Head Coach Noel Emenhiser, in his 11th season, the Crusaders rank inside the NAIA Division II top-50 in 18 categories highlighted by top-20 rankings in total blocks (8th, 135), total scoring offense (10th, 2,773), blocks per game (15th, 4.091) and field goal percentage (16th, .486). 

Madonna has five players ranked in the top-50 in 14 different categories led by Burton who ranks third in scoring (771) and sixth in points per game (23.364). Stephan Umfress is third in assist/turnover ratio (4.33) while Mettie, Speight and Reynolds each hold top-10 rankings. Mettie is sixth in blocks per game (2.429) and total blocks (68), Speight is seventh in free throw percentage (.875) and Reynolds is ninth in total 3-pt field goals made (100). 

The Crusaders are 0-2 in the NAIA National Tournament having lost in 2013 to Southern Oregon University, 83-66, and last season to Marian University (Ind.) 83-59. The Blue and Gold return six of the 11 players that appeared in the game last season including Burton who led the team with 16 points and five assists. 

MU trailed by six at halftime last season, but the offense went cold in the final 20 minutes of the eventual loss. 

The Cougars are led by first-year head coach Eric Echelbarger and have four players averaging 10-plus points while Hampton, a 6-foot-5, 200-pound sophomore, averages a double-double at 11.3 points and 10.7 rebounds per contest. McClain (15.6) and Spivey (15.3) lead the team in scoring with Spivey and Ditwan Gary leading the team with 78 assists. 

As a team, the Cougars rank inside the top-50 in 14 categories highlighted by top-10 rankings in defensive rebounds per game (2nd, 32.129), field goal percentage defense (4th, .401), total blocks (8th, 135) and blocks per game (10th, 4.355). Hampton leads three individuals as he ranks inside the top-6 in five categories including total blocks (3rd, 88), blocks per game (3rd, 2.839), defensive rebounds per game (5th, 8.194), total rebounds (5th, 333) and rebounds per game (6th). 

The Cougars are making the programs second appearance after going 1-1 last season. The Kokomo, Indiana program defeated Union College (Ky.) 89-83 in the first round before falling to 2019 runner-up, Oregon Institute of Technology, 84-72 in the round of 16. 

All nine players who appeared in the first-round win last season return in 2020. Spivey led the team with 28 points while Hampton (15 pts, 14 reb) and Antoin Clifton (15 pts, 11 reb) both recorded a double-double and Darian Porch needed 12 off the bench.