SANTA RITA DO SUPACAI, BRAZIL – Sam Benton, Jr. scored 22 points and grabbed four rebounds in leading a team of New South Athletic Conference men’s basketball all-stars to a 70-59 win over CETAF in the prestigious Sula Basquete South American Cup championship game.

The team trailed at halftime 38-35, only the second time they had fallen behind in the weeklong event, but turned up the defensive intensity in the second half, holding a talented CETAF squad to 21 points.

The All-Stars won their three round-robin games by an average of 33 points before facing stiffer competition in the knockout rounds.

“The guys played like DAWGS!” said proud head coach Vando Becheli, who initiated and led the team in his home country.

“This is such a proud moment for our conference,” said commissioner Mike Davis. “These young men sacrificed to get there and compete, and they did so with poise and honor. I’m proud of every one of them, as well as for Coach Vando and Coach Frankie Hernandez. For them to have this moment is what the NSAC is all about.”