GRANVILLE, OH -- Third-seeded John Carroll (22-6) captured the 2026 NCAC Men's Basketball Tournament title after upsetting top-seeded Denison (18-9), 84-66, on Saturday evening in Denison's Livingston Gymnasium in Granville, Ohio.
As tournament champions, Blue Streaks earned the league's automatic bid into the NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Tournament and will find out who and where they will play on Monday, March 2, at 1:00 p.m. during the NCAA selection show. The NCAA Tournament will open with first and second round games next weekend on campus sites.
#3 JOHN CARROLL (22-6) 84, #1 DENISON (18-9) 66
- Denison carried the early momentum and built an 11-10 edge at the 14:07 mark of the first half, but the Blue Streaks answered quickly behind graduate guard Luke Chicone (Mentor, OH/Mentor). Chicone knocked down four three-pointers over the next few minutes as John Carroll turned a one-point deficit into a double-digit lead, while also getting key contributions from sophomore forward Mike Lamirand (Avon Lake, OH/Saint Ignatius), junior forward Justin Chapman (Sidney, OH/Lehman Catholic) and junior forward Kyle Irwin (Mayfield Heights, OH/Mayfield). The Big Red stayed within striking distance behind junior guard Kellon Smith (Cleveland, OH/Shaker Heights), sophomore guard Owen Giannoulias (Northbrook, IL/Glenbrook North) and senior guard Nick Heath (Upper Arlington, OH/Upper Arlington), but John Carroll closed the half strong and took a 46-34 lead into the break.
- In the second half, Denison continued to battle and chipped the deficit down to 53-49 with 14:26 to play after baskets from senior forward Aidan King (Westerville, OH/Olentangy Orange) and Smith. Giannoulias and sophomore forward Liam Taylor (Western Springs, IL/Lyons Township) added key scores during the push as the Big Red worked to make it a game. Each time Denison threatened, however, John Carroll had an answer. Chicone scored in the paint and at the line, senior forward Kasey Hunt (Sylvania, OH/Sylvania Northview) came up with a step-back three and a dunk during a key stretch, and Chapman and junior guard Aidan Fitzgerald (Kirtland, OH/Lake Catholic) added timely baskets to help the Blue Streaks rebuild their cushion. John Carroll maintained control the rest of the way and closed out the victory.
- For John Carroll, Chicone led all scorers with 39 points on 13-of-18 shooting, including a 6-for-8 effort from three-point range, while also adding five assists. Lamirand followed with 10 points, eight rebounds, four steals and one block, while Hunt chipped in nine points. Fitzgerald added eight points and five rebounds, and Chapman finished with seven points and eight boards as the Blue Streaks shot 52.6 percent from the floor and 48.1 percent from beyond the arc.
- Through his three tournament games, Chicone broke two other NCAC Tournament records including points scored (101) and field goals (39).
- For Denison, Smith paced the Big Red with 14 points and five rebounds. Giannoulias added 12 points, five rebounds and three assists, while Heath and Taylor finished with 11 points apiece. King also reached double figures with 10 points off the bench, and sophomore forward Luke Salkowski (Birmingham, MI/Brother Rice) contributed six points, five rebounds, two assists and three blocked shots.
2026 NCAC Men's Basketball All-Tournament Team
Kasey Hunt, John Carroll
Owen Giannoulias, Denison
Kellon Smith, Denison
Tyler Galluch, Wittenberg
Brady Kunka, DePauw
Tournament MVP (Al Van Wie Award) - Luke Chicone, John Carroll