Joplin, Mo. – The Crown men's basketball team opened the 2022 NCCAA Division II National Tournament with a win over Arlington Baptist on Thursday.  The Storm entered as the four seed, defeating the ACCA national champion Patriots by a score of 82-63.

Participating in the NCCAA for the first time since 2008, the Storm earned an at-large bid to the tournament despite not being able to compete in the North Region tournament due to the UMAC conference tournament taking place at the same time. 

Crown had six student-athletes named NCCAA Scholar-Athletes prior to the tournament, as well as North Region Player of the Year Cade Carroll named an NCCAA First Team All-American.
Carroll would lead Crown in the opening game of the tournament, scoring a game-high 23 points and adding six rebounds, hitting eight of 16 shots for the game. 

Seth Royston provided plenty of fireworks himself, hitting a trio of threes and adding two big dunks, including one for an old-fashioned three point play.  The senior forward finished with 20 points and six rebounds. 

Drew Burnett was huge off the bench for Crown, scoring a season-high 14 points on 5-9 shooting from the field and a 4-5 mark from the charity stripe.  The graduate senior also had six rebounds. 

Crown advances to the semi-finals of the tournament where they will take on top seeded Great Lakes Christian.  The game will again be played at Ozark Christian College with tip-off set for 6 p.m.