MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Forty minutes.

That's what's stands between head coach Scott Sanderson's Faulkner basketball team - which less than two months ago was near the bottom of the conference standings - and a trip to the NAIA national tournament in Kansas City. In the Southern States Athletic Conference semifinals here Friday night, the fifth-seeded Eagles led most of the way but had to fight off a stiff challenge from eighth-seeded Loyola (La.) en route to a 74-69 victory at the Cramton Bowl Multiplex.

Saturday night Faulkner will face the No. 2 seed in the tournament, Middle Georgia State, for the championship. The winner receives an automatic bid into the field of 32 teams that will vie for the title March 16-22 in historic Municipal Auditorium.

"We've come a long way, but we still have a long way to go," said Sanderson, whose team has won 12 of its last 14 games to improve to 19-13 overall. "Middle Georgia is so talented and plays so hard. It will take a monumental effort from our guys. Both games with them in the regular season were battles, and I expect Saturday night's to be the exact same."

Interestingly, both Faulkner and Middle Georgia State won on the other team's home floor, with the Knights winning 94-87 in Montgomery on Feb. 6 and the Eagles returning the favor in Cochran, Ga., 89-80 on Feb. 20. 

"I guess it's only fitting," Sanderson added, "that the rubber game have so much significance. It should be a fun night for both teams and their fans."

Middle Georgia State earned its trip to the finals with a 76-66 victory over Auburn Montgomery earlier Friday. Faulkner's matchup against Loyola was the day's last game, and the Eagles never trailed in the second half after a late surge in the opening 20 minutes gave the Eagles a six-point advantage. There were many anxious moments for Sanderson and his team, however. The Wolfpack clawed to within one possession on multiple occasions before the Eagles steadily pulled away, with Marquis Grays' 3-pointer at the 9:27 mark putting Faulkner on top 54-41. The lead was still 10 with 2:42 left on a Nick Drake basket, but that's when Loyola turned up the pressure on both ends of the floor.

Back-to-back Faulkner turnovers aided the Loyola effort, and when coupled with a 3-pointer and four free throws from the Wolfpack's Nick Parker suddenly the lead was only three with 14 seconds left. Drake, a senior from Nashville, calmly dropped in a pair from the line to make it a two-possession game again. Monta Sanford's steal seconds later sealed it for the Eagles.

"When you're a senior you realize that every game in the post-season could be your last, and that always makes a difference," said Drake, whose 20 points Friday has him just eight shy of 1,000 in his two-year Faulkner career. "We knew this was going to be a 40-minute game, just like we know tomorrow's will be. It's neat to get to the championship game but, to be honest, it won't mean much at all unless we get that ring."

Grays added 16 for Faulkner, which also got 15 from Di'mar Hill. Sanford had nine rebounds and Grays seven for the Eagles, who were outrebounded by Loyola 40-29. The Wolfpack, who ended their season at 17-13, were paced by the 15 points apiece from Johnny Griffin Jr. and Tre'Von Jasmine. Parker added 13 for Loyola.

"I thought we got great contributions off of our bench tonight," Sanderson said. "Marquis was big, and so was Jose Jimenez. He had all eight of his points in the second half, and they all seemed to come at important times. D.J. Boyd made huge 3 for us too. We survived, and advanced."