Box score and play-by-play

Georgetown, Texas - The Tigers didn't lead in their Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference showdown at Southwestern until just 48 seconds remained, but they held on from that point forward to clinch their second straight regular season title and the top-seed in this week's conference tournament.

DePauw improved to 17-7 overall and 12-2 in the SCAC, while Southwestern fell to 17-8 overall and 10-4 in the SCAC. The Tigers open SCAC tournament play on Thursday, February 27 at 1 p.m. CST, against Rhodes College at Christian Brothers University.

Southwestern came out of the gate quickly by scoring the game's first five points and nine of the first 11 over the first three minutes. The Pirates led by as many as 13 in the first half and held a 37-26 halftime advantage.

That margin was still 11 at 46-35 early in the second half, but a 9-1 run capped by Alex Stewart's three-pointer with 11:58 remaining closed the gap to 47-44. Southwestern held off the Tigers and still maintained a 60-53 lead after Robert Cates' basket with 5:56 left.

Jeremy Bettis knocked down three free throws and Joe Ringger added a bucket and then a free throw with 3:09 left to cut the lead to 60-59. Dan Tumis hit a three-pointer with 2:46 left to put the Pirates ahead 63-59, but those would be the last points the hosts would score.

A Bettis basket with 2:29 left and Wes Thornhill's drive with 1:25 remaining tied the game at 63-63. Bettis' steal set up Ringger's go-ahead bucket with 48 seconds remaining. Jon Owens then picked up a steal with 21 seconds left and hit one of two charity tosses with 18.4 seconds remaining to make it 66-63.

Kyle Ellisor missed a potential game-tying three-pointer with nine seconds left and Ringger hit a free throw with 5.9 seconds remaining to cap a game-ending 14-3 run over the final 5:50 and seal the Tigers' victory.

Ringger finished with 26 followed by Bettis with 12 and Stewart with 10. Tumis paced the Pirates with 11.