MBB Season Ends in the Final Four

JOPLIN, Mo.- The Great Lakes Christian College Crusader Men's Basketball team saw their magical run end at the NCCAA National Tournament after another run to the Final Four. The Crusaders fell to the eventual National Champions #1 Kansas Christian College 84-69, ending the Crusaders hopes of a National Title. KCC jumped out on the Crusaders early but GLCC would always fight back but could never get over the 5 point hump as the Falcons would have an answer to every Crusader run. 

GLCC made the final four after an improbable comeback win against the #4 seeded Champion Christian College Tigers. The Crusaders were down 22 points with 14 minutes remaining when GLCC pressure defense turned up and forced 26 Tiger turnovers as Kevin Wright Jr. scored 19 points in the second half and overtime to lead the charge, and Kylan Shipp scored the game winning basket for GLCC with 8 seconds remaining in the overtime.

TQ Belcher was named to the All Tournament team for GLCC.

The Crusaders finish the season with 19 wins. Coach Westerlund will need to look replenish the roster with the Crusaders losing seven seniors in TQ Belcher, Myles Broadie, Rondell Clark, Jaivon Felton, Whitney Harris, Titus Lawrence, and Kylan Shipp. Coach Westerlund had this to say about the season, "Obviously it is bittersweet when a season ends. As I reflect I am so proud of this group the fight and character they showed to overcome and get to his point is truly remarkable. They elevated the program to a level it has not been before, and I am very proud of this team. It is bitter in the sense, I do not think we played our best basketball against KCC, and credit to them they had answer for every shot we threw at them, but the journey and growth of this team over the course of the season when many counted us out in mid January is how I will choose to remember this group. Making another Final Four is nothing to hold our heads about. I am thankful for our seniors and the efforts they have put into our program, and I am excited to get back to work with our returners as we look to continue to raise the bar for next season."