South Alabama S. Alabama/Western Kentucky W. Kentucky Men's College Basketball recap on ESPN

Chris Marcus had 20 points and 18 rebounds as Western Kentucky beat South Alabama 64-54 Tuesday night in the championship game of the Sun Belt Conference tournament.

Western Kentucky (24-6), coming off five straight losing seasons, earned its first NCAA Tournament bid since 1995.

"We are a team that can beat just about anybody," said Western Kentucky coach Dennis Felton, who matched his victory total from his first two seasons. "We are going to play the very best in the country who have a lot of the same characteristics that we have and that got us into that game."

South Alabama (22-10) rallied from a 10-point deficit in the second half and took a 54-53 lead with 4:41 remaining.

Western Kentucky closed with a 13-0 run to seal the win. In the run, Derek Robinson hit a 3-pointer and Tremain Rowles followed with a jump shot. Marcus, the tournament's most valuable player, added four free throws in the final 48 seconds.

Western Kentucky, led by the 7-foot-1 Marcus, outrebounded South Alabama 42-20.

"We just had no answer to the big guy," Jaguar coach Bob Weltlich said. "That ended up being our undoing."

Marcus was spurred by memories of last year's loss to the Jaguars.

"There's no feeling like it," Marcus said. "Last year, they put us out in the second round and it just stuck with us. It's been a long road .... ."

South Alabama, which started three seniors, lost in the title game for the second consecutive season, this time on its home floor.

"I'm extremely proud of our guys, because it was a major challenge to be able to come in here against such a seasoned team, a team that I'm sure felt it had to be their year," Felton said.

"I can't really find the words to express how courageous our players are in getting this done."

Nashon McPherson added 14 points and Raynardo Curry had 11 for Western Kentucky.

Virgil Stanescu led South Alabama with 14 points. Reserve Emmett Thomas added 13. Ravonte Dantzler was limited to three points, 10 below his average.

The Jaguars were 4-of-20 from 3-point range and 6-of-12 from the line.

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Men's College Basketball Scoreboard

South Alabama Clubhouse

Western Kentucky Clubhouse

AUDIO/VIDEO
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Western Kentucky's Nashon McPherson gets a key rebound and layup late in the game.
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Center Chris Marcus fights off three defenders for a Western Kentucky slam.
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South Alabama's Virgil Stanescu shows great determination as he steals the ball and scores.
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Chris Marcus shows his dominance inside as he pulls down the rebound and scores the putback.
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Western Kentucky head coach Dennis Felton is looking forward to March Madness.
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