Champs roll in Russia

Defending D4 Champ Alaska-Adak continued their winning ways by capturing the First Annual PowerNet Global International Exhibition Tournament in Omsk, Russia. In a rematch of last years D4 Championship game Alaska-Adak took care of E.I.E.I.O. 97-86, then upended fellow LNCUTMV Conference member Pigs Knuckle Hollow-Creekside 78-70 to capture the title.

Pigs Knuckle Hollow-Creekside reached the championship game by ousting the host, and a very outclassed, Omsk State Pedagogical University 112-56. O.S.P.U. rebounded in the consolation game and downed E.I.E.I.O. 67-64. E.I.E.I.O. had a commanding halftime lead but substituted freely in the second half allowing their bench to gain valuable experience.

It's hard to take a lot from an exhibition tournament, but it was a very good showing for D4 and the LNCUTMV Conference in general. Pre-season rankings are as follows:

Lower North Central Upper Tennessee Middle Valley

Daisy Moses Medical College
Southern NAIA Tech-Hooterville
Mount Pilot Central State
Alaska-Adak
Bugtussle State
Pigs Knuckle Hollow-Creekside
Southern NAIA Tech
Bodine Military Academy

University Conference of Wisconsin and Illinois

Wisconsin A&M-Springstead
Exeland Institute/Edewater Institute @Ojibway
Duane Churkey School of Engineering
University of Illinois-Nottingham County