Royals' Season Ends in NAIA National Tournament Opening Round Loss to Life

MARION, Ind. – The Royals saw their historic season come to an end in the NAIA Men's Basketball National Tournament opening round, falling to Life University 93-82 on Thursday afternoon at Luckey Arena. Despite a strong second-half push, the Royals couldn't overcome a slow start against a talented Life squad.

Head coach Logan Sharp reflected on his team's accomplishments. "Super proud of the year we had. Fell short to a great team today. 20 wins, NAIA national tourney, first at-large for the AAC ever—this group has a lot to be proud of. I can't thank our seniors enough. Super excited about the future ahead."

Game Recap

Life set the tone early, shooting 55.3% in the first half to build a 54-34 halftime lead. The Royals battled back in the second half, shooting 64.5% from the field, but the deficit proved too much to overcome.

• Toris Woods led the Royals with 23 points, hitting 8-of-14 shots and going a perfect 6-for-6 from the free-throw line.

• Isaiah Poore added 15 points, six assists, and four steals, sparking the Royals' second-half rally.

• Caden Windle provided a key boost off the bench, scoring 15 points on 6-of-7 shooting, including three three-pointers.

• Mason Lockhart and Ben Rice combined for 17 points and 10 rebounds.

The Royals struggled defensively, as Life shot 55.6% from the field and controlled the glass with a 35-27 rebounding edge.

Looking Ahead

Despite the loss, Johnson (20-7) made history as the first Johnson men's team to receive an at-large bid to the NAIA tournament. With a strong foundation and momentum moving forward, the Royals will look to build on this season's success.

For future updates and offseason news, visit JohnsonRoyals.com.