2005 SCAC MEN'S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
SEMIFINAL ROUND

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Trailing 77-76, Spencer Rowland of Sewanee-Univ. of the South nailed a 23-foot three-pointer with 0:22 remaining and after a Southwestern University turnover, Jason Smith hit 1-of-2 from the line and the Tigers' held on for an 80-77 upset overtime victory over the tournament's top-seed Saturday night in the last men's semifinal game of the 2005 SCAC Men's Basketball Tournament.

Rowland's three-pointer, which hit nothing but the bottom of the net, was even more improbable considering he caught the ball in rhythm off a blocked shot that was thrown his way.

Before a raucous crowd, Sewanee built a 14-point lead at 63-49 with 6:09 remaining in the game. However, Southwestern chipped away and cut the lead to one at 67-66 with 1:12 to go in regulation on a layup by center Robert Cates.

Cates, who finished with a game-high 30 points for the Pirates, scored 10 consecutive points for Southwestern down the stretch and his layup with 0:12 remaining once again cut Sewanee's lead to one at 71-70.

The Tigers' Joey Garcia was fouled on the subsequent inbounds pass, but made only 1-of-2. Brandon Daniels grabbed the rebound and his jumper with :06 remaining sent the game into overtime.

Disaster struck for Sewanee in overtime as Garcia picked up his fifth foul of the evening and left the game with 3:04 remaining in the extra period.

For the second consecutive night, Garcia came off the bench to fuel the Sewanee attack and finished with a team-high 20 points and also had six boards. But the Tigers would have to play the final three minutes without him.

A jumper by Cates gave Southwestern the lead at 77-76 with 1:14 left in overtime, but Rowland's heroics would come less than a minute later.

In addition to Garcia, Rowland finished with 17 points and Smith chipped in with 12 points and nine rebounds. Chris Eddy had 10 points and six assists.

For Southwestern (20-7), Cates also had five rebounds, five blocks and three steals to go along with his 30 points. Jamonn Little was next in the scoring ledger for the Pirates with 17 points and Daniels finished with 14 points. SCAC Player-of-the-Year, Aaron Bowser, was held to just five points, but he did contribute with eight assists and five steals.

Sewanee (12-14) advances to Sunday's championship game becoming the first five seed to make the tournament final. The Tigers are the second consecutive team to make it to the SCAC Tournament final with a losing record - following Oglethorpe's run last year.

Sunday's championship will be a battle of Tigers as Sewanee will face Trinity, who is appearing in its third consecutive men's championship game. Trinity has won each of the last two SCAC Tournament titles and Sewanee is looking for its first SCAC men's championship since 1996-97.