The Champion Christian College Tigers travelled to Dallas, Texas to play in their final 2 games of the season, both against Southwest Regional opponents in Southwestern Adventist University and Dallas Christian College. 

In the first Matchup against the 9th ranked Southwestern Adventist Knights, your Champion Christian Tigers came ready to avenge their loss a week before, firing on all cylinders from the tip. With AJ Williams getting in early foul trouble in the first half, The Tigers needed some other players to step up and carry the load, and that they did. Marcus Blakely played his best game of the season, finishing the game with 16 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 blocks, giving a much needed boost on both ends. Keyshuan Scott stepped up as well, hitting some huge shots, going 2 for 2 for 3, and ended the game with 12 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 blocks as well. Braylon Hawkins led the way in the first half, as the team leaned on him hard and he produced a massive 15 points in the first half alone. Overall, the Tigers played really unselfish basketball, with many guys contributing in the first half, and went into half time holding a 43-30 lead. 

When the second half came, a storm came with it. Southwestern Adventist, playing full of emotion on senior night, were not going to go down without a fight, and came out swinging. The Tigers traded buckets early on, until roughly 10 minutes to go in the second half, when the Knights put together a 17-5 run, cutting the game to just 3 and stealing all the energy and momentum in the building. After a couple of timeouts to regain composure by Coach Mo Capaci, Marcus Blakely came through again with a clutch 3 pointer followed by an assist from AJ Williams to a cutting KJ Corder, the Tigers were able to steal all the momentum back. Clutch free throws to end the game allowed the Tigers to finish on top, 85-70. The Tigers defense was the major bright spot tonight, holding Southwestern Adventist to just 30% from the field and 23% for 3.

Some notable performances from tonight's game:

Braylon Hawkins - 19 points, 7 rebounds on 50% from the field and 100% from the free throw line.

Marcus Blakely - 16 points, 4 rebounds, 2 blocks on 67% from the field.

Keyshaun Scott - 12 points, 4 rebounds, 2 blocks on 57% from the field.

Ariyon Williams - 13 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds.

Malik Laurent - 8 points, 12 rebounds, 5 blocks.

In the second game of the Road trip, The Tigers took on the Dallas Christian College Crusaders on the back end of the back to back. From the tip, Champion seemed to be lacking the energy it had the night before, and Dallas, on their senior night, had a packed house and the gym was jumping. The entire first half was a back and forth, with no team being able to jump ahead and take the lead. Champion held the biggest lead early at 5, but after a solid run by Dallas, the Tigers would find themselves behind by 2 at half. 

The second half was much like the first, with neither team able to pull away. No team lead by more than 4 until  3 minutes left in the game, when Dallas got a wide open backdoor layup, followed by a turnover by Champion and a wide open 3 for Dallas. Down by 10, Champion Christian went to a full court press defense, and cut the lead down to just 2, but a missed layup and 3 to tie left the Tigers walking away with a tough loss to end the regular season. 10 missed free throws and 24 turnovers will haunt the Tigers, who needed to win to secure the Regular Season Regional Championship.

Some notable performances from tonight's game:

Kyle Malone - 15 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 steals on 57% from the field.

AJ Williams - 13 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, and 5 steals

Braylon Hawkins - 13 points, 7 rebounds, 2 steals

Marcus Blakely - 10 points

The Tigers now head to Overland Park, Kansas to take on Kansas Christian College in the first round of the Southwest Regional Tournament. That game will be February 23rd, at 7 PM.