Top seed goes down on opening night of NAIA’s Sweet 16 at KC’s Municipal Auditorium

The Sweet 16 of the 2021 NAIA Men’s Basketball Tournament tipped off with four games Thursday afternoon and evening at Kansas City’s Municipal Auditorium.

It did not take long for an upset: No. 16 seed Bethel (Ind.) dominated the second half and took down top-seeded Indiana Weselyan 83-77 in one of the evening games.

The Indiana-based Bethel team outscored Indiana Wesleyan 44-33 in the second half to get the win and move into the quarterfinals. Bethel out-rebounded Indiana Wesleyan, which got 22 points, had eight rebounds and six assists from Kyle Mangas, 47-38.

Bethel will take on St. Francis (Ind.) on Saturday. Saint Francis, seeded ninth in the Round of 16, beat No. 8 Stillman (Ala.) 69-67 in the opener on Thursday.

Kansas’ Bethel College did not fare as well as its Indiana counterpart. The Bethel Threshers from Newton, Kan., lost to Shawnee State (Ohio) 69-59.

The No. 13 seed, Jamestown (N.D.), knocked off No. 3 seed Faulkner (Ala.) 88-83.

Four more Sweet 16 games are scheduled for Friday, with the quarterfinals awaiting Saturday. The semifinals are Monday and the championship game is Tuesday.

The MidAmerica Nazarene women were beaten on Thursday night in Sioux City, Iowa in the Sweet 16 of the women’s tournament. The Pioneers, seeded tenth, lost to No. 7 Clarke (Iowa) 63-60.

Mackenzie Loe had a game-high 23 points for MidAmerica Nazarene. Loe, who played in high school at Shawnee Mission West, also had a game-high 14 rebounds. Loe, came into the game as the Pioneers’ leader in points per game (15.6) assists (3.2) steals (2.0) and blocks (2.0).

The Round of 16 concludes with four more Friday games, with quarterfinals set Saturday, semifinals Monday and the title game Tuesday.

NAIA MEN’S TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

At Kansas City’s Municipal Auditorium

SWEET 16 GAMES

Naismith Bracket

9. St. Francis (Ind.) 69, 8. Stillman (Ala.) 67

16. Bethel (Ind.) 83, 1. Indiana Wesleyan 77

Cramer Bracket

5. Shawnee St. (Ohio) 69, 12. Bethel (Kan.) 59

13. Jamestown (N.D.) 88, 3. Faulkner (Ala.) 83

Duer Bracket

6. Marian (Ind.) vs. 11. Loyola (La.), 2 p.m. Fri.

3. Lewis-Clark St. (Idaho) vs. 14. Oklahoma Wesleyan, 3:45 p.m. Fri.

Liston Bracket

7. SAGU (Texas) vs. 10. Morningside (Iowa), 5:30 p.m. Fri.

2. William Penn (Iowa) vs. 15. Carroll (Mont.), 7:15 p.m. Fri.

Quarterfinals: Saturday, times TBD

Semifinals: Monday at 6 and 8 p.m.

Championship game: Tuesday at 7 p.m.

NAIA WOMEN’S TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

At Sioux City’s Tyson Events Center

SWEET 16 GAMES

1. Thomas More (Ky.) 71, 16. Mt. Vernon Nazarene (Ohio) 51

9. Dakota State (S.D.) 91, 8. Sterling (Kan.) 77

2. Westmont (Calif.) 66, 15. Lyon (Ark.), 60

7. Clarke (Iowa) 63, 10. MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) 60.

3. Campbellsville (Ky.) vs. 14. Lewis-Clarke St. (Idaho), 1 p.m. Fri.

6. Southeastern (Fla.), vs. 11. Indiana Wesleyan, 3 p.m. Fri.

4. Marian (Ind.) vs. 13. Concordia (Neb.), 6 p.m. Fri.

5. Morningside (Iowa) vs. 12. St. Francis (Ill.), 8 p.m. Fri.

Quarterfinals: Saturday at 1, 3, 6, 8 p.m.

Semifinals: Monday at 6 and 8 p.m.

Championship game: Tuesday at 7 p.m.

This story was originally published March 18, 2021 at 4:42 PM.