LUBBOCK, TEXAS - Tuesday evening in Lubbock the Midland College Chaparrals earned a berth in the 2009 NJCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament (March 17-21) with a 75-63 victory over a formidable South Plains College Texans team. The contest featured the 2007 national champion (Midland College) and the 2008 national champion (South Plains College). It was also a match-up of two top-ten teams, #6 Midland College and #8 South Plains College.

Midland College (30-3) will play its opening round game in the national tournament on Wednesday, March 18th @ 1:00 p.m. against Allegany College, MD (29-5). All games will be played at the Bicentennial Center in Hutchinson, KS.

In the regional championship game the Chaps led by as many as 13 points (25-12) early in the first half. SPC made a 16-4 run to close the MC lead to 29-28 at the intermission. The game featured 10 lead changes and seven ties. Midland College seized control in the contest late in the second half, making tough play after tough play to salt away the victory.

Midland College received strong offensive performances by Greg Hill (22 points), Kavon Lytch (16 points) and Brad Kelleher (13 points). The Chaps displayed their typical brand of hard-nosed defensive pressure to force SPC into 16 turnovers and 4 of 12 shooting from the three point line.