MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Life (Ga.) defeated Middle Georgia State 85-78 to win the 2025 SSAC Men’s Basketball Championship, presented by Newk’s Eatery. 
 
Up Next
Life earns an automatic bid to the 2025 NAIA Men’s Basketball National Championship First & Second Round. Dalton State received a bid for winning the league’s regular season title, and the rest of the teams will await word on possible at-large selections. 
 
First Title
The championship is the first SSAC Championship for the Running Eagles’ men’s basketball program
 
Inside The Box Score

• Life’s Chaze Harris led the way with 30 points, nine rebounds and six assists, while shooting 14-of-22 from the field
• Cortez Johnson added 13 points and 11 rebounds, shooting 5-of-6 from the field and Tyreke Johnson added 13 points and five boards
• The Knights got 19 points on 4-of-9 shooting from distance from Trashawn Wilson and 15 points from Nick Cham

 
How It Happened

• Life out-shot Middle Georgia 51% to 40% from the field and won the rebounding 
• Each team built a double-digit lead in the game
• The Knights led much of the opening half, taking a 40-36 lead into the break. Life scored the first five of the second half to claim a 41-40 advantage
• The teams traded buckets for a few minutes to a 43-43 tie. Srdjan Popovich hit a 3-point with 16:44 to play to make it 46-43 Life and the Running Eagles never trailed from that point
• Each time the Knights pulled within one possession, Life answered, including stretching a 59-56 lead with 10:30 to go to 67-59 with 7:08 left on a Harris bucket