2016 NAIA Division II men's basketball tournament

The 2016 NAIA Division II Men’s Basketball national championship was held in March at Keeter Gymnasium in Point Lookout, Missouri. The 25th annual NAIA basketball tournament featured thirty-two teams playing in a single-elimination format. The championship game was won by the Indiana Wesleyan Wildcats of Marion, Indiana over the Saint Francis Cougars of Fort Wayne, Indiana by a score of 69 to 66.^[1]

2016 (2016) NAIA Division II men's basketball tournament

Logo for the 2016 National Championship
Teams	32
Finals site	Keeter Gymnasium, Point Lookout, Missouri
Champions	Indiana Wesleyan Wildcats (2nd title, 2nd title game, 2nd Fab Four)
Runner-up	Saint Francis Cougars (3rd title game, 3rd Fab Four)
Semifinalists	IU East Red Wolves (1st Fab Four) Davenport Panthers (3rd Fab Four)
Charles Stevenson Hustle Award	Vasha Davis (IU East)
Chuck Taylor MVP	Jonny Marlin (Indiana Wesleyan)
Top scorer	Warren Hall (Warner) (61 points)
NAIA Division II men's tournaments «2015 2017»

Championship game

Indiana Wesleyan won their second national championship in three years. This was the fourth meeting of the year between the Crossroads League rivals. Saint Francis won two regular season contests in addition to edging Indiana Wesleyan in the league's year-end tournament. In the NAIA championship, Saint Francis fell behind early, with the first half deficit reaching 13 points. With the lead still six points at half-time, Indiana Wesleyan held off the Cougars to win against the then-#1-team in the nation.

Tourney awards and honors

Team award

• Dr. James Naismith/Emil Liston Team Sportsmanship Award: Dakota Wesleyan (SD)

Individual awards

• Most Outstanding Player: Jonny Marlin, Indiana Wesleyan
• Championship Hustle Award: Vasha Davis, IU East (IN)
• NABC/NAIA Division II Coach of the Year: Greg Tonagel, Indiana Wesleyan
• Rawlings-NAIA Division II National Coach of the Year: Chad LaCross, Saint Francis (IN)

2016 NAIA Division II Men’s Basketball All-Championship Team

Name	School
Jonny Marlin	Indiana Wesleyan
Bob Peters	Indiana Wesleyan
Lane Mahurin	Indiana Wesleyan
Kegan Comer	Saint Francis (IN)
Bryce Lienhoop	Saint Francis (IN)
Austin Fox	Saint Francis (IN)
Lucas Huffman	IU East (IN)
Kevin Rich	Davenport (MI)
Dominez Burnett	Davenport (MI)
Trae Bergh	Dakota Wesleyan (SD)
Kyle Steigenga	Cornerstone (MI)

Statistical leaders

(minimum 4 games)^[2]

Category	Player	School	Tally
Most points	Austin Fox	St. Francis (Ind)	83
Most points	Kegan Comer	St. Francis (Ind)	83
Most points per game	Dominez Burnett	Davenport	20.25
Leading rebounder	Austin Fox	St. Francis (Ind)	51
Leading rebounder per game	Austin Fox	St. Francis (Ind)	10.2
Most assists	Johnny Marlin	Indiana Wesleyan	21
Assists per game	Johnny Marlin	Indiana Wesleyan	4.2
Assist/Turnover ratio	Johnny Marlin	Indiana Wesleyan	3.5
Three-pointers made	Evan Henry	St. Francis (Ind)	15
Best overall field goal percentage	Austin Fox	St. Francis (Ind)	54.8 (34-62)
Best 3-point field goal percentage	Kegan Comer	St. Francis (Ind)	55.8% (10-17)
Best free throw percentage	Domonique Williams	IU East	86.7% (13-15)
Most steals	Bob Peters	Indiana Wesleyan	10
Most steals per game	Bob Peters	Indiana Wesleyan	2.0
Most shots blocked	Bryce Lienhoop	St. Francis (Ind)	10
Most shots blocked per game	Bryce Lienhoop	St. Francis (Ind)	2.0

Bracket

	First Round March 9–10					Second Round March 11					Quarterfinals March 12					Semifinals Round March 14					Championship March 15
	1	Saint Francis (IN) (29-4)	96
	8	Dakota State (SD) (19-13)	81
						1	Saint Francis (IN) (30-4)	89
						4	Mount Mercy (IA) (26-7)	82
	4	Mount Mercy (IA) (25-7)	98*
	5	Southern Oregon (24-8)	97
											1	Saint Francis (IN) (31-4)	80
	NAISMITH BRACKET
											3	Keiser (FL) (30-4)	53
	3	Keiser (FL) (28-4)	77
	6	Olivet Nazarene (IL) (18-10)	66
						3	Keiser (FL) (29-4)	93
						2	Cornerstone (MI) (27-6)	79
	2	Cornerstone (MI) (26-6)	87
	7	Cincinnati Christian (OH) (23-8)	69
																1	Saint Francis (IN) (32-4)	79
																7	IU East (IN) (22-13)[3]	55[4]
	2	Tabor (KS) (30-3)	68
	7	IU East (IN) (19-13)	91
						7	IU East (IN) (20-13)	81
						6	Valley City State (ND) (22-10)	69
	3	Tennessee Wesleyan (28-3)	64
	6	Valley City State (ND) (21-10)	65
											7	IU East (IN) (21-13)	83
	CRAMER BRACKET
											1	Briar Cliff (IA) (32-3)	81
	4	Bethel (IN) (23-9)	85
	5	Robert Morris (IL) (24-9)	80
						4	Bethel (IN) (24-9)	93
						1	Briar Cliff (IA) (31-3)	100
	1	Briar Cliff (IA) (30-3)	81
	8	Washington Adventist (MD) (16-12)	61
																					1	Saint Francis (IN) (33-4)	66[5]
																					2	Indiana Wesleyan (32-5)[6]	69[7]
	1	St. Francis (IL) (28-3)	79
	8	York (NE) (23-9)	83
						8	York (NE) (24-9)	78
						5	Dakota Wesleyan (SD) (23-10)	77
	4	Indiana Tech (23-9)	89
	5	Dakota Wesleyan (SD) (22-10)	93*
											8	York (NE) (25-9)	64
	DUER BRACKET
											2	Indiana Wesleyan (30-5)	89
	3	Northwest Christian (OR) (27-6)	84
	6	Southwestern (KS) (26-7)	69
						3	Northwest Christian (OR) (28-6)	79
						2	Indiana Wesleyan (29-5)	83
	2	Indiana Wesleyan (28-5)	113
	7	Bellevue (NE) (20-11)	81
																2	Indiana Wesleyan (31-5)[8]	66
																1	Davenport (MI) (32-4)[9]	65[10]
	2	Union (KY) (28-6)	70
	7	Cal Maritime (22-9)	81
						7	Cal Maritime (23-9)	65
						3	Warner (FL) (25-6)	73
	3	Warner (FL) (24-6)	93
	6	College of the Ozarks (MO) (20-8)	79
											3	Warner (FL) (26-6)	60
	LISTON BRACKET
											1	Davenport (MI) (31-4)	77
	4	Warner Pacific (OR) (23-9)	106
	5	Nebraska Wesleyan (22-7)	101
						4	Warner Pacific (OR) (24-9)	68
						1	Davenport (MI) (30-4)	80
	1	Davenport (MI) (29-4)	77
	8	Saint Xavier (IL) (19-12)	62

^[11]

* denotes game decided in overtime

Epilogue

NAIA Division II Men’s Basketball All-America Teams

The 2016 All-America team, headed by Davenport's Dominez Burnett for the second straight year, included many standouts from the tournament.^[12]

1st Team

Name	School	Hometown
Dominez Burnett*	Davenport (MI)	Flint, Michigan
Austin Fox	Saint Francis (IN)	Muncie, Indiana
Trey Bardsley	Nebraska Wesleyan	Beatrice, Nebraska
Kyle Steigenga	Cornerstone (MI)	Holland, Michigan
Trae Bergh	Dakota Wesleyan (SD)	Crooks, South Dakota
Lane Mahurin	Indiana Wesleyan	Rockville, Indiana
Clay Yeo	Bethel (IN)	Bourbon, Indiana
Johnny Marlin	Indiana Wesleyan	Greenwood, Indiana
Ilya Ilyayev	Saint Francis (IL)	Los Angeles, California
Warren Hall	Warner (FL)	Tampa, Florida

• - denotes NAIA/NABC Player of the Year

2nd Team

Name	School	Hometown
Javonte Byrd	Northwest Christian (OR)	San Diego, California
Cameron Coleman	York (NB)	Allen, Texas
Tyler Rogers	Alice Lloyd (KY)	Lexington, Kentucky
Leland Robinson	Tennessee Wesleyan	Jackson, Tennessee
Kyle Kilgore	Dakota State (SD)	Adrian, Minnesota
Lance Carter	Tabor (KS)	Troy, Ohio
Stanley Whittaker	Keiser (FL)	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Joel Spear	Southern Oregon	Adalaide, Australia
Aaron Larson	Olivet Nazarene	Tolono, Illinois
Miles Robinson	Indiana Tech	Grand Rapids, Michigan

3rd Team

Name	School	Hometown
Ryan Atkins	West Virginia Tech	Miami, Florida
Lucas Huffman	IU East (IN)	Indianapolis, Indiana
Ethan Murray	College of the Ozarks (MO)	Neosho, Missouri
Brequan Tucker	Jamestown (ND)	Joliet, Illinois
J.D. Tucker	Union (KY)	Charleston, South Carolina
Bryce Lienhoop	Saint Francis (IN)	Columbus, Indiana
Alex Houston	Mount Mercy (IA)	Chicago, Illinois
Larry Motuzis	Saint Xavier (IL)	Darien, Illinois
Jesse Jones	Midland (NB)	Houston, Texas
Taylor Young	Warner Pacific (OR)	Hawthorne, California

Honorable Mention

Name	School	Hometown
Dominique Bolden	Goshen (IN)	Chicago, Illinois
Brian Bridgeforth	Washington Adventist (MD)	Washington, D.C.
Jake Bullock	Aquinas (MI)	Lansing, Michigan
Cameron Clark	Southwestern (KS)	Lewisville, Texas
Brandon Cole	Bryan College (TN)	Crossville, Tennessee
Eddie Delegal	Warner (FL)	Brunswick, Georgia
Roman Delgado	California State Maritime	Santa Clarita, California
Jayden Ferguson	Valley City State (ND)	Williston, North Dakota
Chandler Folkerts	Concordia (NB)	Milford, Nebraska
Bryan Forbes	Briar Cliff (IA)	Lone Tree, Iowa
Kelvin Goodwin	Point Park (PA)	Wheeling Park, West Virginia
Terrelle Green	Robert Morris (IL)	Chicago, Illinois
Grant Greenberg	Saint Mary (KS)	Leavenworth, Kansas
Clayton Herrald	Briar Cliff (IA)	Williams, Iowa
Lawrence Jackson	Northwestern Ohio	Rocky Mount, North Carolina
D.D. Joiner	Rio Grande (OH)	Columbus, Ohio
Earl Jones	Warner Pacific (OR)	Henderson, Nevada
Zach Kirschbaum	Trinity International (IL)	Las Vegas, Nevada
Ben Lanning	Cornerstone (MI)	Grandville, Michigan
Tate Martin	Dakota Wesleyan (SD)	Mitchell, South Dakota
Deion McClenton	Keiser (FL)	Columbus, Georgia
Austin Morris	Brescia (KY)	Evansville, Indiana
Joey Nebeker	College of Idaho	Melba, Idaho
Cameron Paschke	College of the Ozarks (MO)	Fayetteville, Arkansas
Nick Riley	Union (KY)	Hopkinsville, Kentucky
Kyle Stidom	Taylor (IN)	Indianapolis, Indiana
Franky Teran	Antelope Valley (CA)	Tucson, Arizona
Brandon Vanderhegghen	Grace (IN)	Mishawaka, Indiana
Michael Walker	St. Thomas (FL)	Rancho Cucamonga, California
Chris Waller	Southwestern (KS)	Houston, Texas
Dominique Walls	Indiana Tech	Chicago, Illinois

See also

• 2016 NAIA Division I men's basketball tournament
• 2016 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament
• 2016 NCAA Division II men's basketball tournament
• 2016 NCAA Division III men's basketball tournament
• 2016 NAIA Division II women's basketball tournament