![\"Tournament](\"https:\/\/www.send2press.com\/wire\/images\/20-0313-Wilbut-and-Miller-696x522.jpg\")
\nPHOTO CAPTION: Tournament MVP Jerron Wilbut with Coach Michael Miller.<\/em><\/small><\/p>\n
Despite an overall season record of 27-1 ULACD received a four (4) seed entering the first National Championship tournament of March Madness March 4-7, 2020 hosted by the Association of Christian College Athletics (ACCA) at Ozark Christian College in Joplin, Missouri.<\/p>\n
In the first game ULACD faced off against fifth seed Baptist Bible College from Missouri, the Alma Mater of famed evangelist Jerry Falwell. Baptist Bible College came into the game with a record of 16-7 led by Missouri Hall of Fame coach Darin Meinders. Despite playing less than an hour away from their campus in Springfield, Missouri, Baptist Bible College fell 106-92 to ULACD in a sloppy high scoring hard played contest. Both teams combined for 39 turnovers and 45 fouls but ULACD led at half time 53-38 and dominated with points at the free throw line 26-11.<\/p>\n
ULACD was led by Jerron Wilbut\u2019s 37 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists. Wilbut went 13\/15 from the free throw line, missing his last two throws and 4\/6 from the 3 point line. Junior point guard KV Myricks scored 20 points while grabbing 7 rebounds and handing out 3 assists. Back-up forward Johan Meclot came off the bench and recorded a double-double of 10 rebounds and 10 points with 2 assists. Second team All-American Troy Biglow scored 11 points in only 13 minutes of action while battling foul trouble. Kelton Conway added 12 points and 6 rebounds as he was the fifth ULACD player to be in double Figures.<\/p>\n
In the end ULACD followed coach Miller\u2019s formula of establishing superior field goal percentage shooting almost 61% while holding Baptist Bible College to only 39%. Baptist Bible College was only able to stay in the game by shooting an amazing 48 3 point field goals.<\/p>\n
In the National Semi-Final ULACD faced Off against number 1 seed Champion Christian College (CCC) from Hot Springs, Arkansas and their coach Leonard Epps. ULACD and CCC played an entertaining back and forth affair with 12 lead changes and 5 ties. ULACD was down 41-37 while Shooting only 34% at half but outscored the top seeded team by 12 while shooting 60.7% in the second half 47-35.<\/p>\n
ULACD finally prevailed 84-76 winning the assist matchup 19 to 11 while shooting 16\/19 from the free throw line. ULACD was led by Sophomore second team All-American Troy Biglow\u2019s dominating performance with 30 points and 15 rebounds in 40 minutes of game action. Honorable Mention All-American KV Myricks had another stellar effort of 18 points, 5 assists and 4 rebounds. Playing a complete game Despite shooting only 1\/6 at the three point line, Senior Jerron Wilbut nearly had a triple double with 15 points, 8 rebounds and 8 assists. Kelton Conway again talked double figures with 15 points, 2 rebounds and 2 assists in 30 minutes of action.<\/p>\n
In the Championship game ULACD took on the home team Ozark Christian College (OCC) and their veteran coach Chris Lahm, an excellent Coach with over 600 career wins at the Four-Year college level. Although the home crowd loudly cheered OCC throughout, the visiting team from Compton, California finally prevailed 97-89.<\/p>\n
ULACD led at halftime 52-45 despite having cumbersome foul trouble. Despite being the smaller Team ULACD won the battle of the boards in the first half 19-17 and had 13 first assists at half time compared to only 4 for OCC. ULACD also won the shooting percentage war shooting 54.5% from the floor compared to 45% for OCC; and 54.5% from the three point line compared to 38.5% for OCC.<\/p>\n
In the final stanza ULACD outscored OCC 45-44 while shooting 44.7% to 42.9% for the home team. ULACD overcame an outstanding free throw effort by OCC who made 22\/24 foul shots for the game. OCC with a bigger and deeper team, ultimately won the battle of the boards in the end 43-38. ULACD won the assist battle 20-13 in the end.<\/p>\n Leading the team to victory for ULACD was tournament MVP and 1st team All-American Jerron Wilbut who tallied 31 points, 5 assists and 8 rebounds. OCC played excellent defense causing the ULACD starting backcourt, of Juniors Dupree Mitchell and KV Myricks, to combine for a season low 10 points. Reserve freshman guard Devone Brown scored 11 points and added 4 rebounds off the bench.<\/p>\n The difference in the game was the ULACD starting forwards, both Junior College transfers. Junior small forward Kelton Conway was the key to the game making 5\/10 three point field goals, while adding 8 rebounds and 5 assists for a total of 22 points. Complimenting Conway was fellow El Camino Real HS graduate sophomore forward Troy Biglow who added 17 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists in limited Minutes due to fouling out. Reserve senior forward Johan Meclot came off the bench and played outstanding defense while grabbing 6 rebounds and scoring 6 difference making points.<\/p>\n The exciting championship game had 6 lead changes. In the end and Against all odds ULACD cut down the nets and captured their first National Championship in only their third year of having a men\u2019s basketball program.<\/p>\n In the victory, ULACD Head Coach Michael Miller made history by becoming the first coach to win a high school state title, a junior college state title and a national title.<\/p>\n Coach Miller was the first Coach in the history of California to coach both a high school (Ribet Academy 1990-91) and junior college teams (Los Angeles City College 1997-98 and 2002-03) to state titles.<\/p>\n With ULACD\u2019s surprising string of victories in the ACCA\u2019s 38th annual national tournament; Coach Miller\u2019s added national championship (ULACD 2019-20) set a new trifecta record never before achieved by any basketball coach.<\/p>\n![\"ULACD](\"https:\/\/www.send2press.com\/wire\/images\/20-0313-ULACD-Team-696x522.jpg\")
\nPHOTO CAPTION: ULACD Team after National Championship Game.<\/em><\/small><\/p>\n