By NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Going into the NJCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament, those who watch all year expected the Salt Lake Bruins to be here. Northwest Florida was the surprise.
The night in a nutshell for the Bruins was embodied by a sequence at 13:50 to go in the second half when the Raiders scored a layup and Salt Lake committed an immediate turnover by stepping inbounds before tossing it in. There was a momentary protest, but that was indicative of how it went all night.
Momentum went to the Raiders around seven minutes into the game and never really left. Northwest Florida won the final Saturday night in Hutchinson 83-67.
The Raiders absolutely dominated the first half and threatened to run Salt Lake off the floor, leading by twenty-six points at the half 41-15.
The game was very physical and tightly called in the early going, and neither team really got on track until about the seven-minute mark into the game, when some flow got started with the first set of consecutive made baskets on each end coming right before the game's first media timeout. That's when the Raiders went to work and outscored Salt Lake 31-8 for the rest of the half.
The Bruins went ice cold, only shooting 6 of 24 before halftime, and just one of eight from three, while the Raiders were 17 of 33 and 6 of 13 from distance.
The second half was more evenly played, but the Raiders never let Salt Lake get closer than sixteen points and former Wichita State assistant Greg Heiar won an NJCAA National Title in his first year at the helm of the Raiders.
The Raiders were paced by Brennan Rigsby's 24 points, Kam Woods added 17 points, Deshawndre Washington had 10.
The Bruins were led by Jaquan Scott's 11 points. Chase Adams had 10.
Kam Woods won the Bud Obee Small Player Award
The William B. French MVP went to Deshawndre Washington
Rotary Club Coach of the Tournament was Greg Heiar
All-Tournament Team Members
Themas Fulks-Dodge City
Mohamad Wague-Harcum
Sincere Parker-Moberly Area
Drake Allen-Snow College
Achor Achor-Chipola
Cobie Montgomery-Triton
Angelo Stuart-Hutchinson
Kieves Turner-South Plains
Quincy McGriff-Salt Lake
Jordan Brinson-Salt Lake
Tre Clark-Northwest Florida
Brennan Rigsby-Northwest Florida