2018 (2018) NAIA Division I men's basketball tournament
Teams32
Finals siteMunicipal Auditorium
Kansas City, Missouri
ChampionsGraceland Yellowjackets (1 title, 1 title game,
1 Fab Four)
Runner-upAlexandria State Generals
Semifinalists
  • William Penn Statesmen
  • Shreveport State Pilots
Coach of the yearCraig Doty (Graceland (Iowa))
Charles Stevenson
Hustle Award
Dom Robinson (Montana Western)
Chuck Taylor MVPLT Davis (Graceland)
AttendanceChampionship game: 6,377[1]
Top scorerJordin Williams (LSU Alexandria)
(31 points)
NAIA Division I
men's tournaments
«2017 2019»

The 2018 NAIA Division I men's basketball tournament was held in March at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Missouri. The 81st annual NAIA basketball tournament features 32 teams playing in a single-elimination format. The opening game round started on March 14, and the National Championship Game was played on March 20.[2] As of 2018, 576 schools have participated in the NAIA Men's Tournament. 48 states, all but Alaska and Wyoming have been represented.

The Tournament Final saw the Graceland Yellowjackets[3] beat the Generals of LSU–Alexandria 83 to 80 in overtime, with the winning 3-point basket made from the right sideline as the game clock expired.[4] It was the first overtime final since 2016, and the ninth overtime final in tournament history. This was Graceland University’s first appearance in the national tournament, and first championship. LSU Alexandria also marked its first appearance in the tournament. The most recent previous first appearance champion was Dalton State (Ga.) in 2015. Graceland became the first team with double-digit losses to win the title since John Brown (Ark.) in 2005. Graceland was the first team from the Heart of America Athletic Conference to compete in the championship final.

Including the 2018 championship, the last 11 national champions have been different, with Texas Wesleyan taking the 2017 trophy. Six of those champions in the last nine years – Mid-America Christian, Dalton State (Ga.), Vanguard (Calif.), Pikeville (Ky.), Rocky Mountain (Mont.) and Graceland – were winners for the first time in school history.[5]

Awards and honors

  • Player of the Year: Ryan Imhoff Carroll (Mont.) [6]
  • Most consecutive tournament appearances: 27th, Georgetown (KY)
  • Most tournament appearances: 37th, Georgetown (KY)
  • Dr. James Naismith: Emil S. Liston
  • Team Sportsmanship Award: Montana State-Northern
  • Chuck Walden Memorial Award: Scott Thompson and Julia Robinson, Tricension
  • NABC-NAIA Coach of the Year: Kelvin Starr, The Master's (Calif.)

2018 NAIA bracket

First round
March 14–15 		Second round
March 16 		Quarterfinals
March 17 		National Semifinals
March 19 		National Championship
March 20
               
1 The Masters (CA) 104
8 Peru State (NE) 106*
8 Peru State (NE) 77
4 LSU Alexandria (LA) 98
4 LSU Alexandria (LA) 77
5 Lewis-Clark State (ID) 71
4 LSU Alexandria (LA) 87
NAISMITH BRACKET
March 14
3 Georgetown (KY) 66
3 Georgetown (KY) 79
6 Central Baptist (AR) 74
3 Georgetown (KY) 91
2 Oklahoma City 83
2 Oklahoma City 62
7 Xavier (LA) 50
4 LSU Alexandria (LA) 84
1 William Penn (IA) 75
1 William Penn (IA) 68
8 Science & Arts (OK) 63
1 William Penn (IA) 68*
4 Dalton State (GA) 64
4 Dalton State (GA) 62
5 Cumberlands (KY) 60
1 William Penn (IA) 89
CRAMER BRACKET
March 15
6 Our Lady of the Lake (TX) 76
3 Hope International (CA) 60
6 Our Lady of the Lake (TX) 68
6 Our Lady of the Lake (TX) 64*
2 Carroll (MT) 62
2 Carroll (MT) 61
7 Lindsey Wilson (KY) 53
4 LSU Alexandria (LA) 80
5 Graceland (IA) 83*
1 Pikeville (KY) 61
8 Langston (OK) 63
8 Langston (OK) 59
5 Graceland (IA) 67
4 Texas Wesleyan 61
5 Graceland (IA) 70
5 Graceland (IA) 86
DUER BRACKET
March 15
3 Montana Western 76
3 Montana Western 105
6 SAGU (TX) 96
3 Montana Western 75
7 Campbellsville (KY) 72
2 Columbia (MO) 66
7 Campbellsville (KY) 75
5 Graceland (IA) 87
1 LSU Shreveport (LA) 80
1 LSU Shreveport (LA) 72
8 Harris-Stowe State (MO) 63
1 LSU Shreveport (LA) 70
5 Dillard (LA) 67
4 Westmont (CA) 71
5 Dillard (LA) 74
1 LSU Shreveport (LA) 71
LISTON BRACKET
March 14
7 Wayland Baptist (TX) 66
3 William Carey (MS) 67
6 Life (GA) 68
6 Life (GA) 43
7 Wayland Baptist (TX) 65
2 Central Methodist 44
7 Wayland Baptist (TX) 68
  • denotes overtime.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Graceland Wins First-Ever National Title, NAIA.org, Retrieved March 30, 2018
  2. ↑ "2018 Tournament Schedule". Retrieved March 14, 2018.
  3. ↑ Yellowjackets NAIA Division I season rankings, Dakstats.com, Retrieved 30 March 2018
  4. ↑ Tournament Final Game Statistics including shot charts, Dakstats.com, Retrieved 30 March 2018
  5. ↑ 81st NAIA Basketball Tournament Notes http://www.naia.org/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=27900&ATCLID=211706959
  6. ↑ NAIA Player of the year press release http://www.naia.org/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=27900&ATCLID=211707201
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