LAFAYETTE, La. - South Alabama’s bid for its second consecutive Sun Belt Championship fell short on Sunday in the quarter final round of the 2007 Sun Belt Conference Tournament as ninth-seeded Middle Tennessee (15-16) pulled out a 63-60 overtime upset victory.  The Jaguars were led by 16 points by junior Demetric Bennett and junior Ernest Little and senior Carlos Smith each had 14.  With the loss, USA (20-11) will await a National Invitation Tournament bid.

Senior Leandro Buboltz scored the first bucket of the game, but Middle came right back and built an eight point lead five minutes into the contest on solid inside play by Theryn Hudson who had four consecutive field goals to put the Blue Raiders up 10-2.  USA came roaring back as it took the lead 17-16 using an 8-2 run, courtesy of a pair of three pointers by senior Carlos Smith.

A 3-pointer by junior Demetric Bennett put the Jags ahead 27-26 with 3:19 left in the first half.  After a timeout by the Jaguars with 21 seconds left in the half, USA was down 29-27 and Bennett hit his second 3-pointer of the half with four seconds left to put USA up 30-29 at the half.

For the half, the Jags started the game making just one of their first five field goals, but went 11 of 22 the rest of the way for 44.4 percent for the half.  Smith led the Jaguars with 12 points all on 3-pointers and Bennett had eight.  USA was 6 of 12 from beyond the arc.

The Blue Raiders shot 54.2 percent on 13 of 24 from the field and Hudson led the team with 11 points on 5 of 5 from the field.  Middle Tennessee was just 2 of 5 from beyond the arc and 1 of 2 from the line. 

Middle Tennessee held the lead on the boards at 18-9 in the first half.

The Blue Raiders started the half with a 6-0 run to build a 35-30 lead before Little made one of two free throws to end the run at 16:04.  Middle Tennessee built the lead back to five points, but a Little hoop pulled the Jaguars within three at 44-41 with 7:47 left.  A Bennett 3-pointer with 6:45 left brought the Jaguars all the way back after being outscored 15-6 to start the half. 

A steal by Little followed by a layup and foul gave USA its first lead of the half at 51-49 with just over four minutes to play.  A fade away jumper by Kevin Kanaskie put the Blue Raiders back on top 53-51 with 3:15 left. 

A dunk by Little tied the game at 53 with 1:10 left in the game.  A turnover by Middle Tennessee gave the Jags 38.7 seconds left and a tie game.  USA’s Bennett missed a shot off the front of the rim give Middle Tennessee the last shot and Kanaskie missed a running jumper from the lane at the buzzer, sending the game to overtime.

For the game, USA shot 36.8 percent from the field on 21 of 57.  USA shot just 31.8 percent from the floor in the second half on 7 of 22 after shooting 44 percent in the first half.  The Jags were 8 of 27 from beyond the arc and 10 of 19 from the line.

Middle Tennessee was led by Hudson with 13 points and 11 in the first half.  The Blue Raiders shot 47 percent for the game on 21 of 44 from the field.  MTSU was just 3 of 9 from beyond the arc and was 18 of 25 from the line.