SPECIAL TO THE REPORTER

The fourth-ranked Montevallo Eagles ended up on the short end of a 71-67 decision to top-ranked Delta State University in the championship game of the 2006 Gulf South Conference Men&8217;s Basketball Tournament, at the Bancorp South Center on Sunday.

Greg Brown led all scorers with 24 points. James Hall added 18 points while Marcus Kennedy scored 15 points.

Robert Sharpe posted a double-double with 10 pointsand a game-high 12 rebounds.

Hall, Brown and Kennedy were named to the GSC All-Tournament Team.

UM rallied from a second-half deficit for the second day in three games. Trailing by seven points, midway in the second half, UM went on a 12-4 run over a four minute stretch and took a 63-62 lead with just under five minutes left.

DSU responded with three-point baskets by Rice and Johnson on consecutive possessions, to take a 68-63 lead.

A free throw and layup by Hall trimmed the deficit to 68-66 with 1:06 remaining. Jeremy Richardson answered for DSU, making a basket with 41 seconds left.

UM (26-4) has qualified for the 2006 NCAA Division II Men&8217;s Basketball Championship, and the South Regional Tournament to be played in Cleveland, Mississippi, and host institution, No. 1 Delta State University.

UM is the No. 2 seed in the tournament, and will meet No. 7 seed Benedict College, in a regional quarterfinal game on Saturday at a time to be announced