Southern Wins 2013 Toyota SWAC Basketball Tournament - Mar 17, 2013
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 (6'4''-G) had 13 points and seven rebounds, helping SU (23-9) pick up its first tournament championship since 2006. Malcolm Miller (6'6''-G) held a team high, nine rebounds. Miller was also named to the all tournament team.
Jourdan Demuynck (6'1''-G) 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 Jourdan Demuynck made two big baskets in the last 2:11 to trim Southern's lead, 22-19 at halftime.
Jourdan 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 (6'11''-F), Carl Blair (6'2''-PG) and Montrael Scott (6'3''-G) 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.
All-Tournament MVP:Derick Beltran (6'4''-G) of Southern Player of the Year:Omar Strong (5'9''-PG) of Texas Southern Defensive Player of the Year:Fred Sturdivant (6'7''-F) of Texas Southern Freshman of the Year:Terry Rose (6'4''-G-94) of Grambling St. Newcomer of the Year:Malcolm Miller (6'6''-G) of Southern Co-Coach of the Year:Roman Banks of Southern Co-Coach of the Year:Mike Davis of Texas Southern