ROCK HILL, SC -- The Savannah State University men's basketball team won the 2022 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference men's basketball tournament with a 76-62 victory over Benedict College on March 5 at the Rock Hill Sports and Event Complex.

Among those on the SSU roster helping the Tigers was Richmond Hill native Trey DeLoach.

The 6-foot-5 senior did not see action in Savannah State's opening round 60-50 win over Lane College on March 1, but he did play in the following game, a 61-50 win over Tuskegee, on March 3 where he contributed 11 points and eight rebounds.

In the semifinals on March 4 against top-seeded Morehouse College, DeLoach had 11 points, six rebounds, three steals, three assists and two blocks as Savannah State escaped with a 60-59 win.

In the conference championship game against Benedict, DeLoach started the contest and ended up with nine points, nine rebounds and five blocks. He also went 3-for-3 from the field and made three of four free throw attempts.

With the win, Savannah State (15-13) received an automatic bid to the NCAA Division II Championships where they will travel to Fort Lauderdale, Florida to play Nova Southeastern (28-0) in the first round in the South Regional.

DeLoach and his teammates helped Savannah State win their first conference tournament championship since the 1980-81 squad.