Birmingham, AL -- (Sports Network) - Carl Lucas sank a pair of free throws with under one second left in regulation, as Mississippi Valley State punched its ticket to the NCAA Tournament by slipping past Jackson State, 59-58, in the Southwestern Athletic Conference Tournament final.

A three by Chris Watson with 34 seconds to go knotted the game 56-56. After Catraiva Givens made both from the line on the next possession, the Tigers were up by two.

However, Stanford Speech hit one from the charity stripe with 16 seconds to go, and Watson got the offensive board on the second shot. Jeremy Caldwell finally fouled with one second to play, and Lucas calmly drained both attempts to finish the game.

"It came all down to me at the end of the game," Lucas said. "I kept my composure."

Watson posted 10 points for the Delta Devils (19-15), who made the Big Dance for the first time since 1996. Dwayne Harmason and Lucas each pulled down six boards in the victory.

"My guys have worked all year," said Delta Devils coach James Green. "We didn't get to the line much as we do, but we came at the line at the right time. It's been magnificent."

Darrion Griffin posted a game-high 24 points for the Tigers (16-20), who defeated top-seed Alabama State in the semifinals but failed in their bid to win a second straight conference title. Caldwell was the only other player in double figures with 11 points.

The Delta Devils ended the first half with an 11-5 run to take a 34-26 lead into halftime.

Larry Cox converted a layup with 7:16 left in the contest to put the home team up by nine, but Jackson State turned around with a 13-1 burst, capped by two Givens free throws with 39 seconds remaining, to take a three-point edge.

Game Notes

The Devils shot just 24.1 percent from the floor (7-of-29) in the second half, while the Tigers connected at a 47.1 percent clip on the comeback trail (8- of-17)...Jackson State committed 18 turnovers to just 11 for MVSU.