NATIONAL CHAMPS: Triton claims first ever national title with 89-85 win

Triton College blew away the competition during a magical postseason run, but needed to hang on late for an 89-85 win over Pima Community College (AZ) to win the 2018 NJCAA Division II Men's Basketball National Championship, the first in program history. After finishing runner-up two year ago, the top-seeded Trojans held a 27.3 point margin of victory entering the title matchup with the #2 Aztecs, the highest scoring team in the nation, and held off a furious second half comeback to end the year with a 33-4 record. Fellow Region IV representative South Suburban College bowed out of the tournament after two games.

In the title game, five players scored in double-figures for the Trojans, led by Alondes Williams with 22 points. Najee Brown-Henderson dropped in 16 points and Deonta Terrell tallied 15, while reserves Devin Blake and Martrell Barnes had 13 and 11, respectively. Blake finished with a double-double, adding 11 rebounds. Leading up to the title game, Triton defeated #16 Ulster County Community College (NY) by a 107-59 final, host and #8 Danville Area Community College 87-71, and #5 Southwestern Community College (IA) 85-67 in the semifinal.

Sophomore Deonta Terrell was named the Pin Ryan Most Valuable Player, and was joined on the All-Tournament Team by Brown-Henderson and Williams. Steve Christiansen was named NJCAA DIII Coach of the Year.

The Bulldogs, seeded #6, lost 82-80 to #11 Delta College (MI) on a shot with two seconds remaining and despite 35 points from Jordan Matthews. South Suburban then dropped a 73-52 contest to #3 Cuyahoga Community College (OH) in the first round of the seventh-place losers bracket. Lawrence Lemon had 15 points and Jamal Bailey added 14 as the Bulldogs season ended at 28-7.