GARLAND, Texas – Malcolm Miller and Derick Beltran scored 19 points apiece and Southern defeated Alabama A&M 72-59 Friday to earn a spot in the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship game.
Miller had eight rebounds and was 6 of 9 from 3-point range.
Jameel Grace had 13 points and five assists for the Jaguars (22-9). Javan Mitchell had eight rebounds.
No. 1 seed Southern led 29-20 at halftime and never looked back. Southern shot 41 percent from the field for the game. Alabama A&M shot 42 percent but had 17 turnovers. Alabama A&M outrebounded the Jaguars 37-33.
Jeremy Crutcher led the No 6 seed Bulldogs (11-20) with 19 points and six assists. Demarquelle Tabb had 14 points, 15 rebounds and five blocks. Green Hill had 17 points.
Southern will play No. 4 seed Prairie View, which beat Jackson State 88-75 on Friday, for the SWAC title and the automatic NCAA tournament bid on Saturday.
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