IU Kokomo, Georgetown Meet in NAIA First Round

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (Interstat) — A pair of mirror-image teams will clash Friday when the IU Kokomo Cougars and Georgetown Tigers open play in the NAIA Men’s Basketball National Championship First Round.

The 26th-ranked matchup tips off at 6 p.m. EDT on March 13 at Municipal Auditorium. Both teams enter the tournament with identical 19-8 overall records, setting the stage for a tightly contested elimination game.

IU Kokomo, the visiting team, looks to rebound from an 87-83 home loss to IU Southeast in its regular-season finale on March 3. The Cougars are led by dynamic guard Alonzo Clawson-Smith, who scored 25 points in that defeat. Over his last five games, Clawson-Smith has averaged 20.4 points, 4.8 rebounds and 6.2 assists, often playing the full 40 minutes. Forward Joseph Annan Jr. provides a strong interior presence, coming off a 15-rebound performance.

Georgetown, the designated home team, also seeks to bounce back after a 82-74 home loss to Bethel (Tenn.) on Feb. 28. The Tigers counter with forward Aden Nyekan, who dominated the glass with 16 rebounds in that contest. Nyekan has recorded double-doubles in two of his last four outings. He is complemented by guard Isaiah Mason, who had 18 points and five blocks against Bethel, and playmaker Darien Lewis.

The teams share similar recent trajectories. Both finished the regular season 3-2 over their final five games, with each loss coming on their home court. The Cougars’ offense, averaging 77.6 points in that stretch, will test a Georgetown defense that allowed 74.8 points per game over its final five.

The winner will advance to the second round of the 64-team tournament on Saturday, March 14. The loser’s season will conclude.

This marks the first NAIA tournament meeting between the programs. With identical records, contrasting styles and standout individual talents, the matchup promises a competitive start to the championship event.