The Knights lead was extended late in the second half when Fleming hit a 3-pointer. (0:20)
The automatic bid to the NCAA tournament was given to regular-season champion Jacksonville State after it was defeated by Division I newcomer Bellarmine in the Atlantic Sun Conference tournament on Tuesday.
The second of a four-year transition to Division I is not eligible for the NCAA tournament.
The Knights became heroes in Jacksonville, Alabama. The top-seeded Jacksonville State fell at home to the Jacksonville Dolphins on Saturday, but since they are ineligible for the NCAA tournament, they will go dancing.
Liberty, the other ASUN division champion, was defeated 53-50 by a recent Division II power on the road on Saturday. Jacksonville, which joined the ASUN in 1998, was looking for its first league championship and first NCAA berth in 36 years.
Including its Division II history, this is the 13th 20-win campaign in the past 14 seasons.
The Knights made 11 of 12 free throws in the last two minutes with Fleming perfect on eight, to hold off Jacksonville, which made 5 of 8 field goals, two of them 3s, down the stretch.
Jordan Davis scored 22 points for the Dolphins, who lost the only regular-season meeting 76- 73 in overtime in the same building.
Sam DeVault and Juston Betz both hit back-to-back triples as the Knights started to heat up. The Knights went 10-of-14 in the first half with seven of them being behind the rim.
Despite being 0-of-10 from 3-point range, Jacksonville was within 36-26 at the half.
The Dolphins hit six 3s in the second half and shot 50%.
The Knights shot 50% and 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611
The report was contributed to by the Associated Press.
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