DALLAS – The 2024 NCAA Bowling Regional Championships began for six Conference USA teams on Friday. All CUSA programs are still competing through day two, including Arkansas State, Jacksonville State, Sam Houston and Youngstown State having punched their tickets to each respective Regional Championship Final tomorrow afternoon.
Arlington Regional
Louisiana Tech and Sam Houston went head-to-head to begin the Arlington regional Friday morning. Sam Houston held the 2-1 edge over LA Tech after a back-and-forth match that was settled in Baker best-of-seven, 4-2. The Bulldogs moved to the contender’s bracket and avoided elimination as they defeated Belmont Abbey, 2-0. The Bearkats tied 1-1 with No. 4-seeded North Carolina A&T after traditional and Baker. In Baker best-of-seven, Sam Houston took down NC A&T, 4-1. Both CUSA programs are set to compete tomorrow with Sam Houston playing in the regional championship at 3 p.m. CT.
Lansing Regional
No. 3 Youngstown State started the day strong with a 2-0 win over Marian (WI). The Penguins advanced to play Maryville (MO) and secured their spot in the Regional Championship Final after recording another 2-0 win while at odds with the Saints.
Pittsburgh Regional
Top-seeded Jax State registered its first NCAA Tournament win as they defeated Mercyhurst in a dominant 2-0 win. The Gamecocks bettered the Lakers 1005-893 in traditional play and 1067-805 in Baker. They advanced to play Duquesne in the afternoon. After tying the match 1-1, Jax State swept Duquesne in Baker best-of-seven to advance. The Gamecocks are set to play in the Regional Championship Final on Saturday afternoon.
Rochester Regional
The No. 2 seed Arkansas State took down William Smith, 2-0, to advance in the Rochester Regional bracket. The Red Wolves then advanced to play Merrimack in a tight battle as they split the traditional and Baker, 1-1. In the Baker best-of-seven tiebreaker, A-State defeated Merrimack with a 4-3 comeback win. The Red Wolves now advance to the regional championship match tomorrow afternoon. Vanderbilt dropped its first match to Merrimack, 2-1, but the Commodores avoided elimination after a 2-0 win against William Smith in the contender’s bracket, and they are set to compete tomorrow morning for a chance at advancing to play the Wolves in the regional final.
How to Keep Up
The tournament bracket, schedule and results can be found on
NCAA.com.
NCAA Championship Format
The regional championships will take place April 4-6. All regionals are double elimination except for the play-in match at the five-team regional which will be single elimination. Each round will consist of teams competing in a best-of-three match format, bowled in the following order: five-person team match; Baker total pin fall; and best-of-seven Baker match play. Regional competition will conclude with one team from each regional bracket advancing to compete in the championship finals on April 12-13 at Thunderbowl Lanes in Allen Park, Michigan. The champion will be determined using a best-of-seven Baker match play. The championship final will air at 8 p.m. CT, Saturday, April 13 on ESPNU.