KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The NAIA announced the 48-team field and pairings for the Men's NAIA Basketball Championship Opening Rounds. For the fifth time in the past six years, TXWES Men's Basketball (10-5) was selected as an at-large bid and will face-off against Carroll College (Mont.) (17-7).
In its first season under the restructured tournament format, the NAIA opening rounds will take place on March 12-13 at eight different sites across the country. Each location will feature two, three-team brackets. The winners of each of the 16, three-team brackets will head to Kansas City, MO., to play for the National Championship.
The Rams will head to Lewiston, Idaho and will compete in the Lewiston B bracket as the 3-seed. Carroll will act as the 2-seed, while the 1-seed Arizona Christian will play the winner.
This will be the second attempt at a first meeting between the two teams. Ironically, the TXWES vs.Carroll match up was one if the opening round games for the 2019-2020 season that was canceled due to COVID-19.
The Rams and Saints are scheduled for a 2:30 p.m. tip-off on Friday, March 12th at Lewis-Clark State Activity Center.
Head coach
Brennen Shingleton says his team is grateful for a chance to play for a third title. "We're just proud as a team, a program, and as a university to be recognized as a worthy contender for a national championship. We are ready, the players are respectful of this honor to play and represent. The new national championship format is different , so having a chance to be part of this is special."
Tickets
400 spectators will be permitted in the Activity Center for each game of the tournaments.
Tickets will be valid for single games only, and the Activity Center will be cleared after each contest.
Tickets for Friday, March 12 will be $10 per game, and $15 on Saturday, March 13. 100 tickets will be allocated to both the visiting teams and home teams, per NAIA regulations. 150 will go on presale at Tuesday, March 9, at 10 a.m
Check out the Men's Basketball schedule for more game day details, including more ticketing information and how to stream the game.
TXWES Notes
-Men's Basketball has qualified for tournament five times in the last six years.
-The program celebrated national titles in 2017 and 2006.
-This is the 12th appearance at the NAIA tournament all-time for the storied program.
Leaders
Vydal Bradford - 15.6 ppg
Peyton Sallee - 15.4 ppg, 28 steals
Sebastian Karwoski - 8.7 rpg, 60.4 FG%, 84.6 FT%
| Ranks Number 12 in Division I in Steals per Game (9.267) |
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| Ranks Number 27 in Division I in Offensive Rebounds per Game (12.400) |
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| Ranks Number 29 in Division I in Field Goal Pct Defense (0.417) |
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| Ranks Number 31 in Division I in Scoring Margin (9.267) |
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| Ranks Number 35 in Division I in Scoring Offense per Game (83.800) |
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| Ranks Number 38 in Division I in Total Rebounds per Game (39.867) |
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| Ranks Number 45 in Division I in 3-Pt Fg Pct (0.368) |
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| Ranks Number 50 in Division I in Total Rebound Margin (4.333) |
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| Ranks Number 50 in Division I in 3-Pt Fg Pct Defense (0.323) |
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| 2020-21 Individual Rankings |
| Peyton Sallee Ranks Number 13 in Division I in 3-Pt Fg Pct (0.500) |
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| Peyton Sallee Ranks Number 20 in Division I in 3-Pt Fg Made per Game (3.200) |
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| Peyton Sallee Ranks Number 46 in Division I in Steals per Game (1.867) |
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Carrol (Mont.
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-The Saints make their ninth national tournament appearance all-time, and the first since 2011
-The team made it the semifinal game during the 2004-05 season
Leaders
Javon Slijvancanin - 17.83 ppg, 9.3 rpg, 36 steals
Shamrock Campbell - 14.17 ppg, 75 assists, 91.7 FT%
| Ranks Number 5 in Division I in Total Rebound Defense (29.667) |
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| Ranks Number 8 in Division I in Scoring Defense per Game (65.458) |
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| Ranks Number 10 in Division I in 3-Pt Fg Pct (0.402) |
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| Ranks Number 23 in Division I in Offensive Rebounds per Game (12.458) |
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| Ranks Number 28 in Division I in Total Rebound Margin (6.083) |
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| 2020-21 Individual Rankings |
| Shamrock Campbell Ranks Number 3 in Division I in Assist/Turnover Ratio (4.688) |
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| Shamrock Campbell Ranks Number 18 in Division I in 3-Pt Fg Pct (0.492) |
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| Jovan Sljivancanin Ranks Number 20 in Division I in Total Total Rebounds (223) |
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| Jovan Sljivancanin Ranks Number 22 in Division I in Total Rebounds per Game (9.292) |
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| Jovan Sljivancanin Ranks Number 37 in Division I in Defensive Rebounds per Game (6.458) |
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| Jovan Sljivancanin Ranks Number 37 in Division I in Offensive Rebounds per Game (2.833) |
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| Jovan Sljivancanin Ranks Number 46 in Division I in Total Scoring (428) |
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