(3-20-18) Former Rock Valley College Men’s Basketball Coach Craig Doty has done it again. Doty built the Golden Eagles into a NJCAA D III national power by winning multiple national championships, now he is doing the same at Graceland (Iowa) University for the Yellowjackets.
Doty, in just his second season at GU, has put the program into their first ever championship game and has come away with a NAIA DI title beating LSU-Alexander 83-80 on an overtime buzzer beater. It is the first in Yellowjacket history.
Congrats to our winners of the #NAIADIMBB National Championship @GUjackets vs.the @lsuagenerals. Final score 83 to 80.
For final stats go to: https://t.co/Q8c8VMvlG5 – #PlayNAIA #CollegeBasketball pic.twitter.com/sLeMa4tfTy— NAIA (@NAIA) March 21, 2018
The ‘cherry on the top’ play of the game featured former RVC All-American and Jefferson J-Hawk LT Davis when he drove to the basket bringing two defenders with him and ten dishing it off to Justin Harley who hit a 3-ball at the buzzer and a 83-80 win and a National title.
Graceland wins the NAIA National Title AT THE BUZZER! #SCtop10 pic.twitter.com/DhsGKLeFTS
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) March 21, 2018
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Davis was named the Tournament MVP and to the All-Tournament team for his performance in the tournament.
Doty, named NABC Coach of the Year, continues to show that he can coach at any level, with Graceland he did it with just six scholarship players (same as NAIA DII schools). He also did it with numerous RVC connections, including coaches and players.
All Tournament Team: Stevie Clark, LSU Shreveport; Shadell Millinghaus, Georgetown; Terrell Thompson, William Penn; JC Washington, William Penn; Will Nelson, Graceland; Jeremy Deemer, Graceland; LT Davis, Graceland; Will Claiborne, LSU Alexandria; Jordin Williams, LSU Alexandria; Brandon Moss, LSU Alexandria.
Chuck Taylor MVP: LT Davis, Graceland
Charles S. Stevenson Hustle Award: Dom Robinson, Montana Western
Dr. James Naismith-Emil S. Liston Team Sportsmanship Award: Montana State-Northern
Chuck Walden Memorial Award: Scott Thompson and Julia Robinson, Tricension
NABC Division I Player of the Year: Ryan Imhoff, Carroll
NABC Coach of the Year: Craig Doty, Graceland
Date: 3/20/2018 Arena: Municipal Auditorium
Time: 7:00 pm City, State: Kansas City, MO
VISITOR: Graceland (Iowa) (29-10)
TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUNDS
NO PLAYER P FG FGA FG FGA FT FTA OFF DEF TOT PF TP A TO BK S MIN
1 Harley, Justin F 3 5 2 3 0 1 1 9 10 1 8 5 1 2 2 44:56
23 Nelson, Will F 12 21 4 5 2 2 4 8 12 2 30 0 0 0 1 38:23
24 Deemer, Jeremy C 4 8 0 1 3 6 4 6 10 4 11 1 4 0 1 44:47
2 Davis, LT G 6 17 5 9 5 6 1 5 6 3 22 6 7 0 0 41:16
12 Payton, Dalton G 1 5 1 5 4 4 0 1 1 4 7 2 2 1 1 37:39
3 Dembley, Jordan 1 2 1 1 2 2 0 2 2 1 5 2 4 0 0 17:46
5 Limbada, Waseem 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0:13
TEAM REBOUNDS 4 4 8 2
Team Totals 27 58 13 24 16 21 14 35 49 15 83 16 20 3 5 225
Total FG% - 1st: 12/25 0.480 2nd and OTs: 15/33 0.455 Game: 0.466 Deadball
3-PT FG% - 1st: 6/12 0.500 2nd and OTs: 7/12 0.583 Game: 0.542 Rebounds
Total FT% - 1st: 6/8 0.750 2nd and OTs: 10/13 0.769 Game: 0.762 (3,0)
HOME: LSU Alexandria (La.) (29-8)
TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUNDS
NO PLAYER P FG FGA FG FGA FT FTA OFF DEF TOT PF TP A TO BK S MIN
11 Vickers, Chris F 1 5 1 4 0 0 1 1 2 3 3 1 2 0 2 29:12
15 Claiborne, William C 7 9 0 0 4 5 3 1 4 3 18 2 0 1 0 30:21
4 Stove, Anthony G 3 5 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 6 2 0 0 0 15:17
10 Feraci, Joseph G 1 3 1 3 0 0 1 2 3 0 3 0 0 0 1 14:27
23 Williams, Jordin G 10 26 8 17 3 4 0 5 5 3 31 2 1 0 2 45:00
1 James, Jr., Shannon 4 8 0 1 0 2 0 3 3 3 8 5 2 1 2 30:38
2 Smith, Evan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1:09
5 Brinkley, Trent 0 1 0 0 2 2 1 0 1 1 2 0 0 0 2 15:03
21 Moss, Brandon 3 17 0 4 1 2 2 4 6 0 7 2 1 4 2 33:44
30 Thomas, Donovan 0 0 0 0 2 2 1 1 2 0 2 0 0 1 0 10:09
TEAM REBOUNDS 3 1 4 1
Team Totals 29 74 10 30 12 17 12 19 31 13 80 14 7 7 11 225
Total FG% - 1st: 12/36 0.333 2nd and OTs: 17/38 0.447 Game: 0.392 Deadball
3-PT FG% - 1st: 4/13 0.308 2nd and OTs: 6/17 0.353 Game: 0.333 Rebounds
Total FT% - 1st: 0/0 0.000 2nd and OTs: 12/17 0.706 Game: 0.706 (3,1)
Technical Fouls: GU (0)
: LSUA (0)
OFFICIALS : Jeff Pon Josue Nieves David Carter
ATTENDANCE : 6377
ENHANCED SCORING FstBrk OffTov Paint 2ndCh Bench
Graceland (Iowa) 6 8 24 10 5
LSU Alexandria (La.) 9 24 32 3 19
SCORE BY PERIODS 1st 2nd OT1 TOTAL
Graceland (Iowa) 36 36 11 83
LSU Alexandria (La.) 28 44 8 80
Last FG: Graceland (Iowa) OT1- 0:00, LSU Alexandria (La.) OT1- 1:10
Largest lead: Graceland (Iowa) by 13 2nd-13:28, LSU Alexandria (La.) by 5 1st-17:44
Score tied: 8 times, Lead changed: 11 times
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