Southland Conference men's basketball championship history

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The Southland Conference holds an annual men’s basketball tournament with the winner getting an automatic bid to the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament.

The Southland Conference features 13 teams: Abilene Christian, Central Arkansas, Houston Baptist, Incarnate Word, Lamar, McNeese State, New Orleans, Nicholls State, Northwestern State, Sam Houston State, Southeastern Louisiana, Stephen F. Austin and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.

The Southland tournament begins March 11 and runs through March 15.

The conference was formed in 1968. The men’s basketball tournament began in 1981.

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Read below for a list of past champions.

2019: ABILENE CHRISTIAN

Jaren Lewis and Abilene Christian won their first Southland title in 2019. (Photo by Matt Marriott/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)

Abilene Christian won its first Southland title in 2019. They knocked off New Orleans, 77-60. Jaren Lewis was named tournament MVP.

2018: STEPHEN F. AUSTIN

Stephen F. Austin won a fifth Southland title in 2018. They beat Southeastern Louisiana, 59-55. T.J. Holyfield was named tournament MVP.

2017: NEW ORLEANS

New Orleans defeated Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, 68-65, in overtime. Erik Thomas was named MVP.

2016: STEPHEN F. AUSTIN

Stephen F. Austin won a third straight title in 2016. The Lumberjacks defeated Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, 82-60. Thomas Walkup became the first player to win three straight tournament MVPs.

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2015: STEPHEN F. AUSTIN

Stephen F. Austin repeated as champions in 2015. They defeated Sam Houston 83-70. Thomas Walkup won tournament MVP.

2014: STEPHEN F. AUSTIN

Stephen F. Austin bounced back in 2014 and beat Sam Houston State, 68-49. Lumberjacks’ Thomas Walkup was named tournament MVP.

2013: NORTHWESTERN STATE

Northwestern State won the Southland in 2013 over Stephen F. Austin, 68-66. Shamir Davis was named tournament MVP.

2012: LAMAR

Lamar won a fourth Southland title in 2012. They defeated McNeese State, 70-49. Mike James was named tournament MVP.

2011: TEXAS-SAN ANTONIO

Texas-San Antonio defeated McNeese State, 75-72, in 2011. Devin Gibson was named tournament MVP.

2010: SAM HOUSTON STATE

Sam Houston State defeated Stephen F. Austin, 64-48, in 2010. Ashton Mitchell was named tournament MVP.

2009: STEPHEN F. AUSTIN

Stephen F. Austin defeated Texas-San Antonio, 68-57, in 2009. Matt Kinglsey was named MVP.

2008: TEXAS-ARLINGTON

Texas-Arlington defeated Northwestern State, 82-79. Anthony Vereen was named tournament MVP.

2007: TEXAS A&M-CORPUS CHRISTI

Texas A&M-Corpus Christi defeated Northwestern State, thwarting a repeat title in 2007. They won the game, 81-78. Chris Daniels was named tournament MVP.

2006: NORTHWESTERN STATE

Northwestern State won the Southland in 2006. They defeated Sam Houston State, 95-87. Clifton Lee was named tournament MVP.

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2005: SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA

In 2005, Southeastern Louisiana knocked off Northwestern State, 49-42. Ricky Woods was named tournament MVP.

2004: TEXAS-SAN ANTONIO

Texas-San Antonio defeated Stephen F. Austin, 74-70. LeRoy Hurd was named MVP.

2003: SAM HOUSTON STATE

Sam Houston State defeated Stephen F. Austin in overtime, 69-66. Donald Cole was named MVP.

2002: MCNEESE STATE

McNeese State won the tournament in 2002, defeating Louisiana-Monroe 65-43. Fred Gentry was named MVP.

2001: NORTHWESTERN STATE

In 2001, Northwestern State won its first Southland title. They defeated McNeese State, 72-71. Michael Byars-Dawson was named MVP.

2000: LAMAR

In 2000, Lamar defeated Northwestern State, 62-55. Landon Rowe was named MVP.

1999: TEXAS-SAN ANTONIO

Texas-San Antonio defeated Texas State, 71-63. Steve Meyer was named tournament MVP.

1998: NICHOLLS STATE

Nicholls State defeated Texas-Arlington, 84-81, in 1998. Donald Harris was named tournament MVP.

1997: TEXAS STATE

Texas State won the Southland in 1997, defeating Louisiana-Monroe, 74-64. Dameon Sansom was named tournament MVP.

1996: LOUISIANA-MONROE

Louisiana-Monroe won a sixth Southland title in 1996. They defeated North Texas, 71-60. Paul Marshall was named tournament MVP.

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1995: NICHOLLS STATE

Nicholls State defeated Louisiana-Monroe, 98-87, in 1995. Reggie Jackson was named MVP.

1994: TEXAS STATE

In 1994, Texas State won its first Southland title. They defeated North Texas, 69-60. Lynwood Wade was named MVP.

1993: LOUISIANA-MONROE

Louisiana-Monroe won a fourth consecutive Southland title in 1993. They defeated Texas-San Antonio, 80-66. Ryan Stuart won a second straight tournament MVP.

1992: LOUISIANA-MONROE

Louisiana-Monroe three-peated in 1992. They defeated Texas-San Antonio, 81-77. Ryan Stuart was named tournament MVP.

1991: LOUISIANA-MONROE

Louisiana-Monroe won a second straight title in 1991. They defeated Texas-Arlington, 87-60. Anthony Jones won a second straight MVP.

1990: LOUISIANA-MONROE

Louisiana-Monroe began its reign of dominance in 1990. They defeated North Texas, 84-68. Anthony Jones was named tournament MVP.

1989: MCNEESE STATE

McNeese State defeated North Texas, 85-68. Michael Cutright was named tournament MVP.

1988: NORTH TEXAS

North Texas defeated Louisiana-Monroe, 87-70. Tony Worrell was named MVP.

1987: LOUISIANA TECH

Louisiana Tech won a third Southland title in four years. The Bulldogs defeated Arkansas State, 58-51, in 1987. Robert Godbolt was named tournament MVP.

1986: LOUISIANA-MONROE

Louisiana-Monroe defeated McNeese State, 59-57. Arthur Hayes was named tournament MVP.

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1985: LOUISIANA TECH

In 1985, Louisiana Tech repeated as champions, defeating Lamar, 70-69, for the second straight season. Jerry Everett was named MVP.

1984: LOUISIANA TECH

Louisiana Tech knocked off Lamar, 68-65. Willie Simmons was named MVP.

1983: LAMAR

Lamar became the first multi-winner of the tournament in 1983. They defeated North Texas, 75-54. Kenneth Lyons, of North Texas, and Lamont Robinson, of Lamar, were named co-MVPs.

1982: LOUISIANA-LAFAYETTE

Louisiana-Lafayette won the conference title in 1982. They defeated Texas-Arlington, 81-75. Alford Turner was named MVP.

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1981: LAMAR

Lamar won the first Southland Conference title in 1981. The Cardinals defeated Louisiana Tech, 83-69. Mike Oliver was named MVP.