MONROE, La. -- Anthony Jones helped Northeast Louisiana overcome a shaky start Wednesday night and paced the Indians to an 87-63 victory over Florida A&M in an NCAA tournament qualifying game.
The Indians, champions of the Southland Conference, made it into the NCAA tourney by extending the nation's second longest current winning streak to 15 games.
They also won at home for the 25th straight time while boosting their season record to 25-7.
Florida A&M, upset winner of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference tournament, finished at 17-14.
The Rattlers jumped to an early nine-point lead, but then went 5:30 without a point. Northeast Louisiana tied the game at 17-17 on Jones' first points of the night, which came on a breakaway slam dunk.
Then, with the Indians owning a 29-27 advantage, they went on a 13- point run that featured five points by Chad Jacobs.
Northeast Louisiana built a 46-31 halftime lead and Florida A&M got no closer than that 15-point deficit during the second period.
Jones scored 21 to pace the Indians, who won one of three qualyfing games played Wednesday. Reginald Finney paced the Rattlers with 20 points.
