East Central (Okla.) University senior guard Donovan Halsel (Warren Central Class of 2012) scored 17 points to help the top-seeded Tigers to a 96-712 win over Henderson (Ark.) State in the Great American Conference Men’s Basketball Championship Tournament on Thursday in Bartlesville, Okla.

Halsel connected on 5-of-7 shots from beyond the 3-point arc. He also tallied a pair of steals and grabbed two rebounds. Halsel, a starter all season long, is averaging 7.2 points per game this season.

East Central (21-7) will play the winner of Friday’s matchup between Southern Nazarene and Ouachita Baptist in Saturday’s semifinals.

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Lindsey Wilson sophomore swimmer Emily Wood (South Warren Class of 2015) set a new school record in the 500-yard freestyle during Thursday’s NAIA National Swimming and Diving Championships in Columbus, Ga.

Wood finished in 5 minutes, 15.26 seconds to finish 13th overall in the event.

In men’s competition, Campbellsville freshman Seth Jones (Allen County-Scottsville Class of 2015) helped the Tigers set a new school mark by swimming a leg in the 400 medley relay that finished in 3:42.40, good for 19th place.

NAIA national competition continues Friday.

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Brescia junior pitcher Shelby Franklin (Franklin-Simpson Class of 2014) delivered a strong outing to help the Bearcats pick up a 2-1 softball victory over University of the Cumberlands on Thursday.

Franklin pitched all seven innings for the win, allowing seven hits and one walk while striking out five.

Brescia (3-9) completed the doubleheader sweep with a 9-6 win in the nightcap. Senior first baseman Morgan Manning (Butler County Class of 2013) collected a pair of hits and scored a run in Game 2. Manning also had a hit in the opener.

Brescia is back in action March 14 at Oakland City (Ind.).

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Trevecca Nazarene (Tenn.) sophomore infielder Bailey Alexander (Glasgow Class of 2014) had a perfect 3-for-3 day at the plate in Thursday’s 7-6 softball win over visiting Cumberland (Tenn.).

Alexander talled a double and an RBI, and also scored a run in the win.

Trevecca Nazarene (7-6) returns to action March 6 in the PFX – The Spring Games tournament against Walsh University in Clearmont, Fla.

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Campbellsville senior left-hander Dexter Cline (Greenwood Class of 2013) fired two scoreless innings of relief in the Tigers’ 6-1 baseball win over visiting Brescia on Thursday.

Campbellsville (9-5) is back in action Saturday with a home doubleheader against Culver-Stockton (Mo.).

– Jeff Nations