Emmanuel College Lions Are 2009 National Champs!

For the first time in school history, Emmanuel College’s men’s basketball team becomes the NCCAA Men’s Division 1 National Champions with EC Head Coach TJ Rosene named as 2009 National Coach of the Year.

EC Senior Guard Micah Hayes from Decatur is the Tournament MVP and EC Senior Guard Jaeves McLendon from Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., also made the All Tournament Team. Junior Guard Ben Brim from Woodstock and Sophomore Guard Teddy Hudson from Douglasville, EC’s top scorers, made All American.

In a 67-62 win over Nyack College from New York, the number two seeded EC Lions beat the number five seeded Warriors Saturday, March 21. At midway of the first half, the Lions led the Warriors 25-13 and were 38-20 at the half.

"This team played with the heart of a Lion all year long," Coach Rosene says. "It was such a great ride to be a part of. I have never seen a group grow so much and so fast, and I'm proud of these men on the court…and even more so off the court."

Hayes says this has been a magical season for him on and off the court. "Not in one million years did I think my senior season would have such a story book ending," he says. The Lions are also the reigning Region Champs.

The Lions took their first national tournament victory over number seven seeded Asbury College from Kentucky 76-53 and their second over number three seeded Northwestern College from Minnesota 75-71. The National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) Tournament was at Oakland City University in Indiana.

In a special convocation service Tuesday, March 24, the college honored the men's and women's basketball teams where Franklin Springs Mayor Brian James presented the key to the city to Coach Rosene. Mayor James said this is only the second time in his eight years as major to do that--the other time was to Gov. Sonny Perdue. (Pictured from left are Mayor Brian James, Mrs. Pamela Stewart, President Michael Stewart, Coach TJ Rosene, and Mrs. Erin Rosene.)

EC women's basketball team, led by Head Coach Mike Bona, finished fourth in the nation this year. Coach Bona, who also serves as EC's athletic director, proclaimed Lions Basketball Day and presented Coach Rosene with the proclamation. "Be it resolved, that I, Mike Bona, Athletics Director of Emmanuel College located in Franklin Springs, Georgia, do hearby proclaim today Tuesday, March 24, 2009, as LIONS BASKETBALL DAY and request that all persons who encounter a Lions Basketball Team player, coach, or manager on this day, express sincere gratitude and appreciation for a job well done." (Pictured from left are Bona, Rosene and assistant coaches Leo Satara and Wade Mawdesley.)

Article & Photos by Paula Dixon

Championship Photo by www.oak.edu/athletics

More photos from the National Championship Weekend

by Oakland City University SID Brick Briscoe 

bbriscoe@oak.edu