HOT SPRINGS, Ark. — South Alabama will play Western Kentucky for the Sun Belt tournament championship Tuesday night on ESPN2 after defeating Arkansas-Little Rock 54-44 in the semifinals.
The winner earns the Sun Belt’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Jaguars, coached by Ronnie Arrow, need a fourth victory in as many tournament games to claim it.
Fast Start
South Alabama opened the semifinal with a 15-3 run and led 20-5 with 11 minutes left in the first half. The Jaguars’ largest lead was 16 points, which they held as late as the 6:15 mark of the half, and they went to halftime ahead 32-19.
Low-Scoring Second Half
Scoring slowed considerably after halftime. Through the first 16 minutes of the second half, South Alabama scored 10 points and UALR scored 11, leaving the Jaguars ahead by 12. South Alabama scored 10 of its final 12 points at the free throw line to close out the game.
UALR shot 22.9 percent in the second half and South Alabama shot 22.2 percent. For the game, the Jaguars shot 41 percent from the field to the Trojans’ 26.2 percent.
Leaders
Domonic Tilford and Bryan Sherrer each scored 17 points to lead South Alabama. Brandon Davis grabbed 12 rebounds, 10 on the defensive end, and Ronald Douglas pulled down 11, eight of them defensive.
Mike Smith and John Fowler each scored 10 points for UALR, the only Trojans in double figures. Fowler also had 10 rebounds for a double-double.
Championship and Women’s Result
South Alabama and Western Kentucky meet Tuesday night for the title, with the game televised on ESPN2.
In the women’s tournament, the South Alabama women lost to Middle Tennessee 77-71.
