The Southland boys basketball team beat No. 4 seeded United South Central (16-10 overall) 58-51 in the first round of the Section 2AA South Division tournament in Wells Tuesday.

The Rebels (14-12 overall) pulled away in the last five minutes as they led by as many as 13. USC used a 7-0 run to get within 57-51 with 55 seconds left, but Southland held on to the win.

“Our defense was pretty darn good tonight and our offense was patient,” Southland head coach Jon Thalberg said.

USC’s Kyle Bauman, a 6-8 center, scored 24 points, but Southland made it tough for him with constant double teams.

“We talked about him all week and we doubled him all night,” Thalberg said. “We made him earn his points and he didn’t get any easy buckets. They’re other guys also had to shoot more than usual.”

Southland sophomore Sam Klaehn gave the team the boost it needed when he hit three threes in the second half.

“He came through right when we needed him to,” Thalberg said.

Southland will play at No. 1 Maple River (22-5 overall) Thursday at 7 p.m.

Southland 22 36 — 58

USC 23 28 — 51

Southland scoring: Mike Goergen, 15; Sam Klaehn, 14; Decker Bendtsen, 11; Sam Noterman, 7; Nick Schmitz, 7; Alan May, 4; three-pointers: 43 percent (6-for-14); free throws: 60 percent (12-for-20)