W.E. Dowell Fieldhouse – Neutral Site, March 11, 2026 – Mission University's Patriots came within seconds of a Central Regional title Wednesday night but fell 78-77 to the top-seeded College of the Ozarks Bobcats in the NCCAA Central Regional Championship.
Pregame
The championship matchup featured the tournament's top two seeds, with No. 2 Mission University entering at 11-19 overall and No. 1 College of the Ozarks coming in as the tournament favorite.
Both teams advanced through the semifinal round to earn a spot in the regional title game at W.E. Dowell Fieldhouse, which served as a neutral site for the tournament. The winner would secure an automatic berth to the NCCAA National Tournament, while the losing team would await possible at-large consideration.
Game Summary
Mission struck first when Najee Williams opened the scoring with a layup, but College of the Ozarks quickly responded with perimeter shooting from Andrew Dalton, who connected on multiple early three-pointers to help the Bobcats build momentum.
The Patriots found their rhythm midway through the first half behind Clifford Barrow and Jordyn Turner. Barrow knocked down a three-pointer and Turner added a triple off the bench, trimming the early deficit. Turner's scoring burst later in the half helped Mission close the gap to just one point at 26-25, but the Bobcats responded with a late surge.
College of the Ozarks capitalized on second-chance opportunities and outside shooting in the closing minutes of the half. A late three-pointer by Reece Johnson extended the Bobcats' advantage, and they carried a 43-33 lead into halftime.
Mission came out of the break with renewed energy. Marcell Perry opened the second half with a layup, and Jamarian Cato followed with another basket as the Patriots chipped away at the deficit. Midway through the half, Clifford Barrow drilled a three-pointer to pull Mission within three points at 46-49, igniting the Patriots' rally.
The game tightened as the half progressed. Mission eventually tied the contest at 53-53 on a jumper from Justin Gill, setting the stage for a back-and-forth battle. Moments later, free throws from Jordyn Turner gave Mission its first lead of the half at 59-57.
The Patriots continued to build momentum as Najee Williams scored inside and Turner connected on another three-pointer to push the lead to 68-62 with just over eight minutes remaining.
Mission maintained control late in the game, extending the lead to 75-66 after another three-pointer from Clifford Barrow with just over five minutes left.
College of the Ozarks slowly battled back, capitalizing on second-chance opportunities and key baskets inside. With under two minutes to play, the Bobcats cut the deficit to 75-72, then pulled within one on a layup by Tyler Jeremiah with just over a minute remaining.
Mission responded with free throws from Jamarian Cato, pushing the Patriots ahead 77-74 with 32 seconds left. However, in the closing seconds, Andrew Dalton delivered the decisive moment, hitting a three-pointer with 11 seconds remaining while drawing a foul. Dalton converted the free throw to complete the four-point play and give the Bobcats a 78-77 lead.
Mission had one final opportunity, but the Patriots' last shot attempt was off the mark as time expired.
Stat Leaders (Mission)
Jordyn Turner – 17 points, 7 rebounds
Najee Williams – 15 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists
Clifford Barrow – 15 points, 4 rebounds, 3 blocks
Justin Gill – 12 points, 5 rebounds
Marcell Perry – 8 points, 6 rebounds
Postgame
Mission battled back from a double-digit halftime deficit and led late in the second half, showcasing resilience throughout the championship matchup. The Patriots' balanced scoring and strong rebounding effort helped keep them in control for much of the final stretch.
Despite the loss, Mission delivered one of its strongest performances of the season, shooting 46.3% from the field and controlling the glass with 41 rebounds.
The Patriots now await the possibility of receiving an at-large bid to the NCCAA National Tournament, which would extend their season beyond the Central Regional.
Next Up
Mission University will wait to learn whether it receives an at-large selection to the NCCAA National Tournament. If selected, the Patriots would continue postseason play against top programs from across the NCCAA.
