Ray’Sean Taylor scored 20 points and SIU Edwardsville dominated on defense to become the first team to clinch a berth in the 2025 NCAA Tournament, beating Southeast Missouri State 69-48 on Saturday in the Ohio Valley Conference tournament final in Evansville, Ill.The Cougars (22-11) limited the Redhawks (21-12) to 28.3 percent shooting from the floor, including a 3-for-24 effort from 3-point range.SIU Edwardsville, which moved to Division I in 2008-09, is headed to the top-level tournament for the first time. The Cougars made five appearances in the Division II tournament from 1986 to 2006.