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ALPINE, Texas- ASC Tournament MVP Caleb Thomasson scored a second season-high and third career-best 33 points and led the Sul Ross State University Lobos to a nail-biting 68-65, ASC Championship victory over East Texas Baptist University Saturday night at the Gallego Center.

Sul Ross winds up the tournament at 22-6 on the season while the Tigers fall to 21-7.

As conference champions, the Lobos receive an automatic bid into the NCAA tournament.

Sully's regional opponent will be determined during a selection show scheduled for Monday, February 26 at 11:30 a.m. (CST) and will be aired online at NCAA.com.

The first and second rounds will be played March 2-3, with sectionals scheduled March 9-10.

The NCAA Division III Championship will be held at the Salem Civic Center in Salem, Va., March 16-17. The Old Dominion Athletic Conference and the City of Salem will serve as hosts.

In Saturday's conference championship game, several lead exchanges spelled the early part of the opening half.

A short range jumper by Thomasson at the 13:09 mark began a 6-0 run and ended on a floater by Tristen Licon at 11:55 for a 17-10 Sul Ross lead.

Four ties would follow down the stretch before a jumper by the Tigers' Nathan Fontenot put ETBU ahead by three, 29-26, with 4:44 left in the first half.

A layup by Thomasson at the 2:45 mark gave Sully the go ahead before ETBU's Robby Dooley converted the first of two free throws at 1:21 to knot the contest up at 30 heading to the break.

The teams would swap leads three times to begin the second period.

C.J. Ross then drained a 15-footer from the elbow and broke a 41-41 tie with 14:15 left in the game.

The Pack would maintain a slim lead over the next three minutes before a free throw by ETBU's Jordan Gosey tied the game at 45 with 11:06 remaining.

Brock Anders then fired off a three-point basket to bust the knot at the 10:45 mark.

Sul  Ross then worked its way to a five-point lead off a jumper in the paint by B.J. Hollis with 7:28 left in the contest.

The Tigers threatened and pulled to within one at 3:57 off a foul shot by Gosey.

Thomasson's layup with :59 seconds left extended the Lobo lead to four before another Gosey free throw, coupled with a jumper by Darrice Whitley, pulled the visitors to within one with nine seconds left on the clock.

With four seconds remaining, Licon was sent to the stripe and banked on two free throws before a failed desperation toss by the Tigers handed the ASC title to Sul Ross in the 68-65 victory.

Ross and Jola Otubu finished with 12 and 11 points respectively while Thomasson and B.J. Hollis led rebounders with eight boards each.

In addition to Thomasson, Licon and Ross were also listed to the All-Tournament team.