For Mervo it was simple -- slow down fourth-ranked Southwestern's up-tempo offense and shut down Ernie Evans, its leading scorer.
For the Sabers (7-2) it was too complicated a game plan to handle.
They didn't adjust when it counted and the Mustangs upset the host Sabers in triple overtime, 66-65, to win the championship of the Henderson Neal Memorial Tournament yesterday.
Damion Weaver's driving layup with 16.4 seconds to play gave the Mustangs (5-3) the victory.
Southwestern's Reggie Johnson missed a jumper with four seconds left.
The winning drive was redemption for the 5-foot-4 Weaver, who earlier had missed several chances to put the game away for Mervo.
It was the second meeting between the two teams in a week, with the Sabers winning the first, 73-59, last Wednesday.
"We didn't want to lose to them twice," said Duncan Anderson, who scored 17 points, all in the second half. "I told the guys I refuse to lose. Hopefully people will respect us with this victory."
Kevin Harper led the Mustangs with 19 points and a season-high 20 rebounds and three blocked shots. Weaver, who used the stall offense to perfection, scored 14 points.
Evans, who fouled out with 1:08 to play in the first overtime, finished with 10 points. Johnson, who scored 21 points last week against the Mustangs, had 16.
"We played terrible, we were in a trance against Mervo," said Southwestern coach Terry Leverett, whose team's only other loss was to Dunbar D.C. in the Function at the Junction at Walbrook.
"I'm not taking anything away from them, [coach] Woody [Williams] called a great game. He slowed things down and we just couldn't do anything."
Southwestern led most of the game until Harper took a crosscourt pass and dunked it at the buzzer to send the game to overtime tied at 44.
The teams traded baskets in the first overtime and Weaver had a chance to win the game for Mervo with a one-and-one foul shot situation with 12.3 seconds to play. He missed the shot and, after a Southwestern timeout, Andre Jones missed a three-pointer at the buzzer.
Weaver had a chance to put the game on ice with his team ahead, 60-58, with 1:14 to play in the second overtime, but he missed a one-and-one.
Two free throws by Donte Lloyd tied the game at 60 and, after a turnover, Southwestern missed a chance to break the tie at the buzzer.
But in the final overtime Weaver took over, hitting two free throws with 3:08 to play for a 64-62 edge.
Johnson's drive at 2:48 tied the game. After another miss by Weaver at the foul line, Johnson was fouled with 35 seconds left. He hit the first foul shot, but a lane violation on the second gave Mervo the ball trailing 65-64.
"That call really hurt us," said Leverett. "Even if he misses the shot we still have a shot at the rebound or anything. It's a different ball game."
Weaver made sure of that with his drive. "I saw an opening in the lane and went for my shot. For most of the game I had been dishing off to other players, but I decided to try for the shot," he said.
Said Williams: "He's our little big man. He is a senior and one of our leaders. We like for him to take the shot, but he's so unselfish. He does a lot for this ballclub with his leadership."
In the consolation, Tyree Brown scored 16 points and William Jernigan had 15 as Northern (2-5) defeated Carver, 71-58. Jason Johnson led the Bears (1-5) with 17 points.