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March Madness: Ranking the college basketball national championship games across all three divisions

By Daniel Benjamin

Apr 3, 2017; Phoenix, AZ, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels team holds up the trophy after the win over the Gonzaga Bulldogs in the championship game of the 2017 NCAA Men's Final Four at University of Phoenix Stadium. North Carolina defeated Gonzaga 71-65. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 3, 2017; Phoenix, AZ, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels team holds up the trophy after the win over the Gonzaga Bulldogs in the championship game of the 2017 NCAA Men's Final Four at University of Phoenix Stadium. North Carolina defeated Gonzaga 71-65. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 24, 2017; Lexington, KY, USA; A view of the NCAA Women’s Regional logo on an official Wilson basketball prior to the game of the Ohio State Buckeyes against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the semifinals of the Lexington Regional of the women’s 2017 NCAA Tournament at Rupp Arena. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 24, 2017; Lexington, KY, USA; A view of the NCAA Women’s Regional logo on an official Wilson basketball prior to the game of the Ohio State Buckeyes against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the semifinals of the Lexington Regional of the women’s 2017 NCAA Tournament at Rupp Arena. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /

5. D-II Men’s Championship

The Northwest Missouri State Bearcats defeated the Fairmont State Fighting Falcons (W.Va.), 71-61, in the first national championship game appearance for both programs.

Northwest’s defense was the story of the game. The Bearcats (35-1) opened the game on a 13-3 run and held the Falcons to just 17 points with a little more than three minutes to go in the half. The Bearcats led 32-21 at halftime as they limited the Falcons to 31 percent (9-of-29) shooting for the half.

Northwest (35-1) scored four of the first five points of the second quarter to extend its advantage to 36-22.

Fairmont State (34-3) would make a couple of runs but Northwest always had an answer. The Falcons got within 49-41 with around nine-and-a-half minutes remaining, though, that was the closest they would get.

Northwest shot 50 percent from the field, and held Fairmon State to 36.5 percent from the floor, including 17.6 percent from beyond the arc. The 61 points for the Falcons were a season low. Fairmont State averaged 94.5 points and shot 48.6 percent from the field for the season.

Justin Pitts, the NCAA D-II POY, paced the Bearcats with 23 points. Chris-Ebou Ndow posted a double-double with 17 points and 18 boards for Northwest. Matt Bingaya produced a game-high 24 points to lead Fairmont State. Chris Wimbush chipped in 17 points along with eight rebounds for the Falcons.

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