North Alabama's semifinal win in Atlantic Sun tournament hands conference's automatic NCAA Tournament bid to Liberty

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Chris Parker scored 16 points and Liberty beat Stetson 77-64 on Friday in the Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament semifinals and later earned a spot in the NCAA Tournament when North Alabama reached the title game.

North Alabama, a 96-81 winner over Florida Gulf Coast, is ineligible for the NCAA Tournament because it is in a four-year Division I transition period. Due to that, Liberty has been granted the conference's automatic bid to the Big Dance regardless of Sunday's ASUN title game result.

Blake Preston added 13 points and 10 rebounds, and Darius McGhee added 13 points and nine assists to help Liberty (22-5) reach a conference championship game for the fourth straight season.

Liberty guard Drake Dobbs waits to go into the Feb. 22 game against North Alabama.

Christiaan Jones had 20 points for the Hatters (11-14). Chase Johnston added 16 points.

Featured Weekly Ad