For the third time this year the Columbia International University faced off against Piedmont International University. However, this game was a little different as the two teams were matched up in the losers bracket of the NCCAA National Championship tournament. Just like the past two games this one was close all throughout, but in the end the Rams defeated the Bruins for the third time, 65-61. With the win the Rams also make history winning their first-ever NCCAA National Championships game.

1st Half Highlights:

• It took three minutes for the first points of the game to be scored and they were in the Rams favor with a jumper by Jeff McIlwain
• Tajae Anderson would score the next points with a layup on a fast break
• The Bruins would answer with a three pointer
• Another three by the Bruins would give them an early 6-4 lead
• The Rams would tie the game up with a jumper from Arthur Pearson
• The Bruins regained the lead on a free throw, but almost three minutes later the Rams regained the lead on a three by Brandon Doss
• The lead once again went back to the Bruins as they hit a layup and free throw
• On the next possession the Rams would regain the lead on a three by Eric Graham
• The Bruins would tie the game at 12, but back-to-back threes by Graham gave the Rams an 18-12 lead with eight minutes left in the half
• With seven minutes left in the half the Rams would take their biggest lead on a layup by Anderson
• The Bruins would trim the Rams lead to one with three and a half minutes left in the half
• The Rams closed the half out with a deep three by Corey Benton to lead 31-26 at the break

2nd Half Highlights:

• The second half got started with a free throw by the Bruins, but Pearson converted a layup on the Rams next possession
• The Rams would once again take an eight point lead on another three by Graham
• The Bruins fought back and pulled within one of the Rams 38-37
• Over two minutes later Doss would hit a three to give the Rams a four point lead back
• The teams would go back and forth, but the Bruins regained a lead on a three
• Pearson would give the Rams their lead back on a jumper
• A back and forth battle continued between the Rams and Bruins, but after the game was tied at 49 a jumper by Anderson and three by Doss gave the Rams a 54-49 lead
• The Bruins would tie the Rams at 55 with six minutes left in the game
• Benton would hit a three just twenty-two seconds after the Bruins tied the game
• With twenty-four seconds left in the game the Rams were up 62-61
• The Bruins would foul the Rams and Benton and Doss would hit their free throws to lift the Rams to a 65-61 victory

Box Score Highlights:

• The Rams shot 40.3% (25-of-62) for the game and were 10-of-23 from beyond the arc...The Rams did struggle from the free throw line as they only 5-of-15...The Bruins shot 30.3% from the field and were 17-of-28 from the charity stripe...The Bruins won the advantage off the glass 57-37...Each team had twenty points in the paint...Arthur Pearson led the Rams with 21 points and chipped in with three assists and two rebounds...Eric Graham was 4-for-4 beyond the arc and had a total of 14 points...Corey Benton only had seven points, but hit two big threes...Brandon Doss had 11 points off the bench...Tamir Glenn led the Bruins with 23 points and 14 rebounds

Up Next: The Rams will play their final game of the season tomorrow at 5 pm as they take on Grace College or Nebraska Christian College in the 5th place game.