MT. BERRY, Ga. - Coach Tommy Brown and his battling Lee University basketball team accomplished plenty in one night. Not only did the Flames defeat host Berry College, 79-71, they also claimed the Southern States Athletic Conference title and reserved a spot in the NAIA National Tournament in Kansas City.

But, like the TV game show hosts are always says, "that's not all." They also will be the top-seeded club in next week's SSAC tournament in Americus, Ga. It was the 21st win of the season for Brown's club and gives Lee a 15-5 conference record. Not bad for a coach in his first season with the Flames and for a club that was not even on the radar screen when conference coaches voted for the best teams in their annual pre-season poll.

Playing before a large crowd at Berry, Lee's All-American candidate Kevin Smith showed the fans why he should be ranked among the nation's best. Smith scored 21 points in the first half and helped Lee out to a 37-34 half-time margin. He finished the night with 35 points and eight rebounds. Not only did Smith make 13-of-19 field goal tries, he went to the line nine times and converted all nine. "He can play anywhere he wants to play," said one disappointed Berry fan as he left the Ford Gym.

The Flames were short-handed. Sophomore guard Kellen Pickel was out of action with a broken finger, but all his teammates rallied around him. From top to bottom, Lance Sexton, Cori Pugh, Rob Giesey, Sir-Lee Mason, Michael Banks, Stanley Burrison, and Tony Doyley all had a hand in this championship win.

Doyley dished off seven huge assists. At least four went to Smith for dunks. Banks scored six points in the final minutes, one on a shot from behind the arc, and another when he drove, scored and was fouled.

Mason, in foul trouble the entire first half and not shooting well, stepped up with a pair of 3-pointers in the late going as Berry fought hard to get back in the game and pull the upset. "That's the type of player Sir-Lee is," said Brown. "He's made big shots for this team all year and did that again tonight."

Pugh played rugged defense and pulled down nine important rebounds. Giesey hit three 3-point shots and gave Lee 33 tough minutes. Sexton tallied four points, added four assists, one block and two steals. He's always one of Lee's top defenders.

"I said at the beginning of the conference season if we could win all our home games and split on the road, we could win the conference," said Brown. His thoughts proved to be exactly right. The Flames are champs. "We want to go into the conference tournament and play well," added Brown. "That would give us a chance at a higher seeding in the national tournament."

For Berry, Lee Burrell and J.D. Pollock were the leaders. Burrell had 18 points and Pollock 17. Tramaine Aaron added 10. Lee won the rebounding battle 34-24. and shot a blistering 58 percent from the field. They also went to the charity stripe 19 times and made 14. Berry shot 19 freebies and hit 13. The Vikings shot 41 percent from the field and 40 percent from 3-point range.

The Flames will learn more about their first-round opponent in the SSAC tournament after regular-season play concludes this weekend.