UNIONTOWN, Pa. — For the first time in school history, the Concordia College Alabama (16-12) men’s basketball team will play for a national championship.

Shaquille Duncan had a double-double and Joshua Stallworth scored 20 points to lead the Hornets past Washington Adventist 73-68 Thursday in the United States Collegiate Athletic Association Division I semifinals.

“I told the guys this is our third time getting here, and we definitely don’t need to come up empty handed,” said Concordia head coach Fredrick Summers. “For some of the seniors that have been here more than once, I know last year left a bad taste in their mouth.”

Joshua Stallworth scored 20 points on 10-for-16 shooting and Duncan finished with 15 points and 11 rebounds. Jamie Washington also had 16 points and five rebounds.

Tyrus Fleetwood made a 3-pointer with five minutes left to give Washington Adventist a 62-61 lead with five minutes left. Stallworth came right back with back-to-back layups to put Concordia up three.

After Fleetwood’s shot, Washington Adventist (17-13) went more than four minutes without a made field goal. Concordia took advantage as Duncan and Washington made shots to push Concordia’s lead to 69-63.

Kendrick Atwood added a layup and Ryan Wakins knocked down two free throws to put the game away in the final minute.

“Everything we’ve done this year, it was all for this point right here,” Summers said. “We are going to go out and give it everything we’ve got, and we are going to leave it all out on the floor Saturday night.”

Concordia will play Oakwood at 8:45 p.m. ET for the national championship. The teams split two meetings this year, with Concordia winning the last meeting 70-61 in Selma. Oakwood won the first meeting 76-57 on its home floor only two days before the teams met in Selma.

 

Concordia 73, Maine Fort Kent 57 (Women’s)

Erica Ousley scored 31 points to lead Concordia past Maine Fort Kent 73-57 Friday and back into the United States Collegiate Athletic Association Division I national championship game.

Ousley was 11-for-22 from the field and made 3-of-8 three-pointers to lead the way for the Hornets. Shuntavia Harris scored 11 points and also had nine rebounds for Concordia, which will play Iowa Wesleyan for the national championship Saturday at 12:30 p.m.

When the game ended, there wasn’t a lot of celebration from the Concordia players. Part of that might’ve been because they stayed up until after 1 a.m. Friday morning watching the Concordia men win their game and qualify for the title game.

However, coach Howard White said the lack of celebration was because the team hadn’t reached its goal yet.

“They were very excited, but they were all focused. They were like ‘we expect to be here,’” White said.

“It’s one of those things where you’re excited, but you’re focused on what you came here to do.”

Concordia led 38-29 at halftime and led throughout by nine or more throughout the rest of the second half. Ashley Henley, who scored 10 points, made the first bucket of the second half to extend Concordia’s lead to eleven.

Maine-Fort Kent struggled from the 3-point line, going 4-for-21 and couldn’t get within single digits the rest of the half.

White said his team played sluggish early in the game, but picked it up in the second half when they could see the championship game in reach. He said on Saturday, he’ll make sure his team is well-rested.

“I’ll make sure they are in the bed tonight by eight,” White said.