BKC COL: E. Tenn. St. 78, Chattanooga 62

JERSEY CITY, N.J., March 6 (UPI) -- East Tennessee State on Saturday became the first team to earn a bid to the NCAA Tournament by capturing the Southern Conference title.

East Tennessee won the title with a 78-62 triumph over Chattanooga.

The top-seeded Buccaneers (27-5) received 25 points from Tim Smith and earned their second straight Southern Conference crown. Last season, East Tennessee State suffered a three-point loss to Wake Forest in the NCAA Tournament.

"He's a great player," Buccaneers coach Murry Bartow said about the 5-9 Smith. "We put the ball in his hands and we just let him go."