No. 3 Harvester Bees Open National Tournament Next Wednesday
NJCAA DIII TOURNAMENT CENTRAL | BRACKET | SELECTION SHOW | BRACKET REVEAL
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Dallas College Eastfield men's basketball team earned an at-large bid to the National Junior College Athletic Association Division III Tournament in Herkimer, New York. The Harvester Bees will match up against Joliet Junior College (Ill.) in the opening round 1 p.m. CT next Wednesday at Herkimer College.
The tournament runs through March 14. Games will be live streamed on the NJCAA Network, and Live Stats are available.
It is the NJCAA Division III-most 14th appearance at the national tournament in the Harvester Bees' history. They won it all in 1997.
Eastfield (20-9) is one of three Dallas Athletic Conference teams headed to Herkimer. It is the first time in league history the DAC will send three teams to the NJCAA Division III Tournament. The Harvester Bees will be joined by No. 4 Dallas College Richland (20-9) and No. 6 Dallas College North Lake (22-10) in the 12-team national tournament field. Richland also earned an at-large bid, and North Lake won the NJCAA Division III South Central District Tournament title to qualify for the national tournament.
The Harvesters beat all five DAC opponents in the final round of league play, and took a six-game winning streak into the postseason before falling to North Lake in 82-78 in the South Central semifinals.
Freshman guard Braydon Campbell leads the Bees in scoring (15.6 per game) and assists (4.7), and is shooting 81.4 percent from the free throw line. Sophomore forward Martez James is averaging 14.6 points and 10.4 rebounds, while shooting 55.6 percent from the field. Sophomore guard Aiden White is averaging 10.1 points and 1.1 steals, and shooting 36.8 percent from three-point range. Freshman forward David Uwalaka is averaging 8.5 points and 4.2 rebounds, and shooting 51.3 percent.
Joliet (15-11) is coming off a Mid-Atlantic District championship Friday.
Jeff Fleming is averaging 17.2 points and 12 rebounds for the Wolves. Ricky Hill is scoring 16.9 points, and Levi Goad 12.4.
Eastfield is making its first appearance at the national tournament in four years.