Courtesy: SWAC.org
GARLAND, Texas – Top seed Southern University punched its ticket to the NCAA Tournament with a 45-44 victory over No. 4 seeded Prairie View A&M in the championship game of the 2013 Toyota SWAC Basketball Tournament on Saturday at the Curtis Culwell Center.
Tournament MVP Derick Beltran had 13 points and seven rebounds, helping SU (23-9) pick up its first tournament championship since 2006. Malcolm Miller held a team high, nine rebounds. Miller was also named to the all tournament team.
Jordan DeMuynck had 15 points and nine rebounds for PVAMU (15-19). The Panthers made their first Southwestern Athletic Conference title game appearance since 1998.
Southern led 22-15 with 2:59 remaining in the first half, but DeMuynck made two big baskets in the last 2:11 to trim Southern’s lead, 22-19 at halftime.
DeMuynck tied the score with a three-point shot early in the second half. The Jaguars then reclaimed the lead moments later, but the game remained close until Southern mounted a 7-0 run to open a 48-35 lead with 1:41 to play.
PVAMU’s Jules Montgomery, Carl Blair and Montrael Scott produced three baskets in 33 seconds to cut Southern’s lead to one in the final minute, but the Jaguars held on for the win.
Blair finished with 12 points and Montgomery hauled in 12 boards for the Panthers. DeMutnck and Blair were also named to the all tournament team.
Southwestern Athletic Conference
2013 Toyota SWAC All-Tournament Team
Christian Williams (Jackson State)
DeMarquelle Tabb (Alabama A&M)
Carl Blair (Prairie View A&M)
Jourdan DeMuynck (Prairie View A&M)
Malcolm Miller (Southern)
(MVP) Derick Beltran (Southern)
