Chris Alexander scored 16 points Friday night to lead Southern to a 66-59 victory over Jackson State total points and earn a trip to the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship game.

Deforrest Riley-Smith added 13 points for Southern (18-12). Peter Cipriano had nine rebounds as Southern took control of the game from the beginning and never gave up its lead over Jackson State (15-17).

Southern outscored Jackson State 33-27 in the first half, and 33-32 in the second.

Trey Johnson led Jackson State with 16 points. Catraiva Givens added 12 points.

Ernest Hassell, Julius Young and Johnson each had seven rebounds.

Southern will face Arkansas Pine-Bluff on Saturday in the championship game.