BAY MINETTE, Ala. - Palm Beach State College won the DII Gulf South District Championship and earned an automatic bid to the NJCAA Tournament with a 64-59 win over Coastal Alabama Community College North. 

Saturday's district final was a match-up of ranked teams - Palm Beach brought the nation's No. 1 ranking into the contest while Coastal-North was 23rd. The game lived up to its billing. 

Although the game was played on the campus of Coastal-South, Palm Beach State played what amounted to a road game. In front of a partisan Coyote crowd, Coastal-North took a 30-28 lead to the half. 

The Panthers made a run to open the second half, eventually grabbing a double-digit lead before holding off a gallant comeback attempt by Coastal-North. 

Palm Beach State will carry a 20-game winning streak into the NJCAA DII Men's Basketball Championship in Danville, Ill., March 16-21.

Women's Championship Recap

Palm Beach State went 1-for-2 on the day, falling in the Gulf South District Championship Game for the third straight season. 

Saturday marked the second consecutive season the Panthers faced off against Chattahoochee Valley (Ala.) Community College. A year ago, the Pirates claimed the victory in Tallahassee, Fla. On Saturday, Chattahoochee Valley won, 78-53. 

The Panthers' season ends with a record of 11-19.