JOPLIN, Mo. -- Maranatha faces #7 Barclay tomorrow for the NCCAA 5th-Place Game, and it will be the first time the two programs have ever gone head to head.
Maranatha posted a gritty 77-73 comeback win over #8 Ozark Christian this morning to get to Saturday. That win came after a hard 59-52 loss to Grace Christian the day before. Barclay lost 97-53 to Pensacola Christian yesterday but cruised past Trinity Baptist in the other consolation game today.
Maranatha looks to send their seniors off with a win and Barclay is chasing a winning record at their first-ever nationals appearance.
REGIONALS
Maranatha qualified for Nationals by capturing their third straight North Region title. Barclay fell to Dallas Christian in the Southwest Region Tournament, but a 14-5 record at the time earned them the ticket to Nationals as an at-large selection.
Barclay joins fellow Southwest Region competitors Ozark, Arlington, and Champion at Nationals, as half of the field is from the Southwest.
2021 STATS
Barclay runs a high-powered offense, as their 74.7 points per game is the fourth-highest mark in the NCCAA DII. Their defense has been good enough, as their scoring margin of 4.2 points per game is the fifth-best ranking in the NCCAA DII.
Below is a statistical comparison of the two teams:
| History |
Maranatha |
Barclay |
| National Titles |
3 |
0 |
| Nationals Appearances |
21 |
1* |
| |
|
|
| Statistics: 2020-21 |
|
|
| Overall record |
11-9 |
15-6 |
| NCCAA record |
9-2 |
14-4 |
| Points/game |
61.1 |
74.4 |
| FG % |
36.1% |
37.3% |
| Rebounds/game |
39.6 |
41.4 |
| Last five games |
L-W-W-L-W |
W-L-L-L-W |
*first-ever nationals appearance
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HOW TO FOLLOW
