Kirkwood Eagles Capture 2025 NJCAA DII National Championship
Danville, IL – The Kirkwood Eagles secured their fourth NJCAA Division II Men's Basketball Championship title on Saturday, edging out No. 4 seed Parkland in a thrilling 55-54 victory at the Mary Miller Center.
The No. 3 seed Eagles capped off their remarkable season with a 33-3 overall record, returning to the top for the first time since 2019, when they last claimed the national title. With 14 tournament appearances, Kirkwood ranks second all-time in Division II history and holds the most wins in national tournament play, boasting an impressive 39-12 record.
A Road to Remember
Kirkwood opened the tournament with a dominant 18-point victory over No. 14 Kansas City Kansas before surviving a three-overtime thriller against No. 6 Macomb, 78-77. The Eagles then pulled away in the second half of their semifinal matchup against No. 7 Kalamazoo Valley, winning by 15 points to secure a spot in the championship game.
A Championship Battle to the Wire
The title game was a defensive showdown, featuring 10 lead changes and six ties. With 29 seconds left, Parkland tied the score, setting the stage for a dramatic finish. As time wound down, the Cobras fouled Kirkwood's Traijan Sain, who calmly knocked down a game-winning free throw with just one second remaining, sealing the one-point victory for the Eagles.
Individual Honors
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Lucas Lueth was named the Pin Ryan Most Valuable Player of the tournament. The redshirt freshman guard delivered across four games, tallying 46 points, 26 rebounds, seven steals, and nine blocks, while shooting 50% from the field (18-of-36). In the championship game, he contributed 10 points, seven rebounds, one steal, and two blocks to help lift the Eagles to victory.
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Tim Sandquist, Kirkwood's head coach, was honored as the Coach of the Tournament for leading the Eagles to another national title.
With another championship banner added to its storied program, Kirkwood cements its place among the elite in NJCAA Division II men's basketball history.
