FRANKFORT, Ky. - The IU Southeast men's basketball team earned its third consecutive KIAC Tournament Championship on Saturday by defeating Brescia University, 78-71. The Grenadiers overcame several scoring deficits in the second half to earn the seven point victory over No. 2 Brescia at the Frankfort Convention Center in Frankfort, Ky.

The No. 5-ranked IU Southeast men's basketball team improves its overall season record to 25-4. The Grenadiers, who earned the first seed in this year's tournament with an 11-1 regular-season record against KIAC opponents, has won the KIAC regular-season and tournament championship for the third consecutive year. This is the first time in the basketball programs history that such an accomplishment has been achieved.

With the win, IU Southeast earns an automatic bid to 19th Annual NAIA Division II Men's Basketball National Championship in Point Lookout, Mo. from March 10-16 in Keeter Gymnasium at the College of the Ozarks.

IU Southeast was led by junior Jazzmarr Ferguson (Louisville, Ky.) who scored 20 points with eight assists and four rebounds. Senior Carlos Mitchell (Louisville, Ky.) added 17 points, four rebounds and two steals. Senior Alex Gravelle (Louisville, Ky.) rounded out double-digit scorers for IU Southeast with 11 points and four rebounds. Grenadier senior DeJon Gary (Indianapolis, Ind.) led IU Southeast in the rebounding column with six rebounds.

The Grenadiers shot 48-percent from field goal range and 59-percent from behind the 3-pt. arc. Brescia led IU Southeast by one point at halftime, 34-33.

IU Southeast outscored Brescia 45-37 in the second half to earn the victory.

Check back to IUSAthletics.com or NAIA.org later this week for more information regarding the NAIA Men's National Basketball Tournament.