No. 3 Dillard rallies in Second Half to claim HBCUAC Championship
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Dillard University men's basketball player Bentravin Phillips came up with two steals and layups in the final two minutes to lead the No. 3 seed Bleu Devils to 74-72 victory over No. 5 Philander Smith University in the Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) 2025 Hope Credit Union Basketball Championship game Sunday at Birthright Alumni Hall.
The victory gives Dillard its fourth conference tournament championship and first since three-peating from 2016-2018.
Philander Smith (22-9) led early on two shots by Raymond Reece and Amorey Womack got a steal and scored a layup-and one to give it a seven-point lead. Justin Warren hit a jumper to give the Bleu Devils a 22-21 lead with 8:47 left in the first half. The lead changed hands multiple times. A 3-pointer by Tory Cargo gave Dillard a 34-33 lead at halftime.
With the score tied at 52 with 10:31 left, Dakhari Lewis made a layup-and one to put the Panthers in front. Xavier Alexander hit a 3-pointer and Womack made a layup after a blocked shot by Lewis to increase the lead to eight. Armond Williams made a layup. Warren stole the ball and passed to Cargo for a dunk. Ben Fort hit a layup to cut the margin to 60-58 with 7:20 left in the game. Two shots by Warren gave Dillard a 65-63 lead with 4:05 remaining.
Shots made by Elijah Anderson, Alexander and a second-chance bucket by Lewis put Philander Smith ahead by five with 2:25 left. A dunk by Khalif Allim, a steal and score by Phillips, pulled Dillard within one. Warren tied the game with a 3-pointer with 56 seconds left. Phillips got a steal and gave the Bleu Devils the lead with a layup. Philander Smith was unable to get the tying shot off before the buzzer.
Phillips earned 2025 HBCUAC Championship Most Valuable Player, posting team-highs of 18 points, six assists and three steals. Cargo earned a spot on the 2025 HBCUAC All-Tournament Team with 13 points and six rebounds. Warren earned All-Tournament, putting up 13 points, five rebounds and four assists.
Reece led all players with 21 points and 15 rebounds, securing a double-double. He represented Philander Smith on the All-Tournament Team. Womack followed with 15 points and four assists. Lewis supplied 11 points and four rebounds.
With the victory, Dillard earns the conference's second automatic bid to the 2025 National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Men's Basketball National Championship Opening Round. Stillman College earned the first by winning a share of the regular season title and earning the No. 1 seed. Both schools will find out their opponent and site during the NAIA Selection Show at 7 p.m. Thursday on the NAIA Network.
2025 HBCUAC All-Tournament Team
Most Valuable Player: Bentravin Phillips, Dillard
Tory Cargo, Dillard
Justin Warren, Dillard
Raymond Reece, Philander Smith
Jesse Olverson Jr., Wilberforce
Calvin Finch Jr., Stillman