The No. 2 Northwestern State Demons have clinched an automatic invitation to the NCAA tournament, defeating the No. 1 Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks 68-66 in the Southland Conference tournament.
Northwestern State wins 2013 Southland Conference basketball tournament: Wildcats punch NCAA ticket
The Northwestern State Wildcats won a back-and-forth battle against the top-seeded Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks.
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Northwestern State led for most of the game, as they held a seven-point lead in the first half and a nine-point lead in the second half. The Demons could not bury the the Lumberjacks, as Stephen F. Austin answered every Northwestern State run with a run of their own.
Neither team shot particularly well, as the two Southland opponents went a combined 7 for 31 from behind the three-point line. Both teams also struggled from the free-throw line, as they shot a combined 63 percent at the charity stripe.
DeQuan Hicks played inspired basketball down the stretch, scoring two baskets in the final two minutes and grabbing an offensive rebound with 50 seconds left to help the Demons kill clock. Jalan West missed a two-point basket for Northwestern State, giving Stephen F. Austin a chance to tie or win with six seconds left.
The Lumberjacks had to bring the ball up the full length of the court, and turned it over at the mid-line with two seconds left. Hicks intercepted the pass and attempted a half-court basket, missing the shot but killing the final two seconds of the gameclock.
Hicks finished with 13 points for the Demons, while Shamir Davis led the team with 19. Desmond Haymon led all scorers with 23 points, while Taylor Smith scored 16 points and grabbed 15 rebounds for the Lumberjacks.
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