NEW ORLEANS -- UALR's winningest basketball season reached a tipping point this weekend in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament at Lakefront Arena.
The Trojans arrived in southern Louisiana with the No. 1 seed, 27 total victories, including 17 in Sun Belt games, and a certain amount of uncertainty.
Had they done enough to earn an at-large bid into the NCAA Tournament's 68-team field if they did not earn the Sun Belt's automatic bid?
That question won't need to be answered.
UALR trailed by five at halftime, then unleashed a dominating second half en route tor a 70-50 victory over Louisiana-Monroe in the Sun Belt Tournament final.
[GALLERY: Click here for photos from UALR's win over Louisiana-Monroe]
Senior forward Roger Woods scored 15 of his 19 points in the final 20 minutes, when the Trojans outscored the Warhawks 42-17, and Woods dribbled the ball uncontested as the final few seconds ticked off the clock.
Trojans fans celebrated in the stands, Warhawks players walked slowly off the floor and the UALR players took part in a celebratory group hug that moved from one end of the court to the other.
UALR had confronted its NCAA Tournament status head on, beating Louisiana-Lafayette and the Sun Belt's best player in the Saturday semifinal, and on Sunday subduing the second-seeded Warhawks, who came into the game with a 10-game winning streak.
The victory over the Warhawks ensured the Trojans of the Sun Belt's automatic bid, which translated into a No. 12 seed in the Midwest Region and a 3:30 p.m. Central Thursday afternoon matchup with No. 5 seed Purdue (26-8) in Denver.
"We didn't run from it. We embraced it," Beard said of the urgency his team faced after it lost the regular-season finale at Appalachian State to minimize its at-large chances. "We said 'it is what it is,' we're not going to have any regrets, we're going to go out and try to win the championship."
The Trojans celebrated as confetti fell from the rafters and "One Shining Moment" blared over the arena's sound system. Then, for the second time in two weeks, UALR players and coaches climbed a ladder to cut down a net, signifying them as undisputed Sun Belt champs.
"I wouldn't say surprised to be in the Sun Belt championship," said Jalen Jackson, who contributed 11 points on Sunday. "But, as far as success all over, like 28-4, yes very surprised. I'm happy we got it done."
Woods reminded Jackson that the Trojans were celebrating victory No. 29, and Jackson quickly corrected himself.
"Oh, 29-4, excuse me," Jackson said.
The probability of winning that 29th game didn't look all that good when the Warhawks (20-13) closed the first half on a 21-12 run to go up 33-28 at halftime.
The Trojans defense was slipping as Louisiana-Monroe was getting to the free-throw line and open for three-pointers. Majok Deng, Jamaal Samuel and Justin Roberson each made threes in the final 6:36 as the Warhawks seemed to be taking control.
"The game was up for grabs at halftime," Louisiana-Monroe Coach Keith Richard said. "But they went out and earned it."
That came after Beard reminded his team what got it there -- lockdown defense and fluid offense -- during a halftime speech that could be heard through the locker room's concrete walls.
"I didn't really like our body language, I didn't like our demeanor in the locker room," said Beard, who admits to suffering a possible broken hand at halftime. "We had an aggressive face-to-face talk and kind of challenged the guys. They deserve all the credit because they're the ones who embraced the message and came out and really executed."
The Trojans took Beard's words to heart.
"What Coach Beard says, he means it," Woods said.
Said Jackson: "We knew we had to come out and play a little better than we played in the first half."
The Trojans started the second half with six consecutive defensive stops as Woods, Lis Shoshi, and Daniel Green combined for seven consecutive points and the Trojans were back in front, 35-33.
The 18-4 run continued, and Jackson's three-point play made it 45-37 with 12:19 left.
Marcus Johnson Jr. added a three-pointer from the wing with 8:06 remaining and the Trojans led 53-42.
UALR held Louisiana-Monroe to 7 of 25 shooting while making 15 of 28 shots itself.
"We've had some special halves," Beard said. "But this was one of them."
Deng, who had 23 points in the Warhawks' Feb. 13 victory over the Trojans, was held to 12 points on Sunday, including 4 in the second half. Roberson had 17 to lead the Warhawks, who got points from five players.
UALR relied again on its bench and balance.
Kemy Osse's 12 points were his most since Jan. 21. Nine Trojans scored, a collective effort that helped make up for five points on 2-of-7 shooting from senior guard Josh Hagins.
When the game and celebration ended, Beard tried to get in touch with his three daughters who live in Texas.
"Girls, pack your bags," Beard said. "Tell your mom to answer the phone, we're going to get you to the first round."
Sports on 03/14/2016