Athletics: TSU clinches SWAC regular season title (Men's Basketball)

Texas Southern defeated Alabama A&M 83-78 Saturday in overtime to secure the #1 seed in the 2011 SWAC Basketball Tournament.

The Tigers dictated the tempo in the first half. They led by as much as nine points before increasing that lead to 14 with 1:00 left on the clock. TSU led at halftime 44-30. TSU’s Harrison Smith led the team with 12 points.

The Tigers’ offense tailed off in the second half as the Bulldogs managed to get back in the game via the energy of the crowd. They cut the TSU lead to 1 (57-56) at the 8:57 mark. AAMU then built a 64-59 lead with a little over six minutes remaining.The Tigers rallied and tied the game at 64-64 with 2:45 on the clock.

The game was tied at 70 until TSU’s Harrison Smith was fouled with less than a second remaining in the game. Smith missed both free throws which forced a third overtime game (2^nd consecutive) for the Tigers.

Texas Southern jumped out to a 78-72 lead early in the extra period. Alabama A&M tied the game at 78 with a quick layup and a four-point play. The Tigers scored the last five points for the win.

Harrison Smith ended the night with 19 points. Travele Jones had 18 points and four assists.  Kevin Galloway contributed with six points, eight rebounds, 10 assists and four steals.

The Tigers improve to 14-1 in conference play and head to Alabama State in the final road game of the season on February 28. Tip-off is at 8:00 P.M.

Athletics: Tigers win in overtime against Mississippi Valley

Texas Southern defeated Mississippi Valley 58-55 in overtime to win their seventh consecutive win at home. The victory also clinches at least a share of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) regular season title.

TSU trailed 22-9 nine minutes into the first half. They then regained their composure and went on a 14-0 scoring run to take a 23-22 lead with 1:51 remaining. TSU led at halftime 26-24.

The second half went back and forth until MVSU established a 46-40 lead with about five minutes remaining. The Tigers rallied with a 10-4 scoring run to tie the game at 50 with 10 seconds left. MVSU missed a game winning lay-up as time expired in regulation to force overtime.

Texas Southern dominated the overtime period, scoring the first six points of the extra five minutes of play. Mississippi Valley missed the game-tying three pointer in the final moments as TSU pulled out the three point victory.

“We were too cavalier with the basketball," said head coach Tony Harvey. “A win is a win…we played tough….we kept fighting.”

This is Texas Southern’s (15-10, 13-1) second overtime win for the season and now have sole possession of first place in the standings.Travele Jones led the Tigers with 17 points. Freshman guard Lawrence Johnson-Danner chipped in with 13 points. Kevin Galloway had six points, seven assists and eight rebounds.

D’Angelo Jackson led the Delta Devils (11-17, 10-5) with 21 points.

The Tigers travel on the road to face Alabama A&M on February 26 and Alabama State on February 28. The next home game is on March 3 against Southern.

Athletics: Lady Tigers lose to Valley

Texas Southern lost to Mississippi Valley 66-54 to split the season series at 1-1. The loss sends them to 3-11 in conference play and still in a fight for the final tournament berth.

TSU were down early 15-4 within the first seven minutes of the first half.  They responded with a 15-4 scoring run to tie the score at 19. Mississippi Valley then answered with a 15-5 scoring run of their own to lead by nine (34-25) with 1:17 remaining. TSU trailed at halftime 35-32.

The Lady Tigers trailed for most of the second half until they rallied to tie the score at 51 with 7:33 remaining. It was the last time the game was close. TSU went cold from the field as the Devilettes ended the game on a 15-3 scoring run for the 12 point victory.

NaDosha Strickland ended the night with 21 points and seven rebounds. Jasmine Cannon contributed with 10 points, seven rebounds and three assists.

The go on the road to face Alabama A&M on February 26 and Alabama State on February 28. The next home game is against conference-leading Southern on March 3.

Athletics: Lady Tigers fends off UAPB rally

Texas Southern defeated Arkansas Pine-Bluff 70-61 to remain tied for eighth place with Alabama State for the final spot in the SWAC Tournament. The victory splits the season series with UAPB.

TSU jumped out to a 16-6 lead within the first eight minutes of the game. The Lady Golden Lions couldn’t answer back as they shot 3 of 21 (14.3) from the field. The Lady Tigers led by 17 (33-16) with about 2:30 remaining. Texas Southern led 40-23 at intermission.

Breast cancer survivors were recognized during the halftime festivities.

TSU increased their lead to 22 (49-27) at the 16:43 mark. UAPB’s Laquisha Slaton almost single-handedly led the Lady Golden Lion comeback but only trimmed the Tigers’ lead to four (58-54) with 5:07 remaining. The Lady Tigers then increased the lead to seven with 3:14 left to play and escaped with the nine point win.

NaDosha Strickland led all TSU scorers with 18 points. Jasmine Cannon had nine points and seven assists. Gabrielle Rosiji also contributed with eight points and 11 rebounds.

UAPB’s Laquisha Slaton ended the night with 30 points, including 11 of 12 from the free throw line.

Texas Southern (5-19, 3-10) continues the fight for 8^th place against Mississippi Valley on February 21. Tip-off is at 5:30 PM at the H&PE Arena.

Athletics: Tigers defeat Arkansas-Pine Bluff, now 12-1 in SWAC

Texas Southern defeated Arkansas-Pine Bluff 71-68 to increase its home win streak at six games. The Tigers escaped a late rally by the Golden Lions, particularly of a 3 point variety.

TSU were down early 13-5 during the first five minutes of the first half. Texas Southern settled in offensively and outscored UAPB 31-14 over the next 15 minutes to lead by nine (36-27) at halftime. Texas Southern shot an impressive 8 of 10 from the free throw line.

TSU maintained the offensive output from the first half and led by 11 (40-29) early in the second half. The Tigers soon went cold as UAPB mounted a 14-2 scoring run to lead 43-42 at the 13:42 mark. That lead was short lived. The Tigers answered with a 16-4 scoring run of their own to lead 56-47 with 6:37 remaining.

The Golden Lions’ 3-point shooting kept the game within reach but TSU held on for the three point victory.

TSU point guard Justin Ray scored a season high 14 points. Guard Lawrence Johnson-Danner was the top scorer with 15 points. Travele Jones pitched in with 14 points and Kevin Galloway had five points, five rebounds and 10 assists.

Texas Southern (14-10, 12-1) wins their sixth consecutive game and adds UAPB as the fourth consecutive school to be swept by TSU this season. The Tigers continue the home stand versus Mississippi Valley on February 21. Tip-off is at 8:00 PM.

Athletics: Interview with TSU Athletic Director Charles McClelland

Charles McClelland was named Texas Southern Athletic Director in April 2008. He oversees 16 sports, nine women and seven men. McClelland was instrumental in finalizing the deal for TSU to play football at the new Houston Dynamo Stadium starting fall 2012. He previously served as athletic director at Prairie View A&M University from 2000-2007. A native of Jackson, MS, he is a graduate of Prairie View A&M University in both undergrad and graduate studies and is currently working on his doctoral degree at Texas A&M University.

Uba Okereke: First of all I would like to thank you for the opportunity to interview you.

Charles McClelland: My pleasure.

UO: What is your prognosis of the athletics programs this season?

CM: Well, I think we made tremendous progress in our 5 year strategic plan. We met many of our goals. Our graduation rate was at 35% and increased to 43%. We project that by the end of the year all but one of our programs will meet the NCAA minimum requirements. We have generated over $1.2 million dollars in our fundraising efforts and our infrastructure has improved in a two and a half year span. Obviously we won the SWAC Football Championship, our men’s basketball team is in first place and we are projected to compete for the championship in baseball and softball.



UO: Can you tell us more about the recent NCAA probe into TSU Athletic Department?

CM: Not at this point. I can’t elaborate until we get additional information from the NCAA. What I can say that it was based upon an APR audit. We have been in an NCAA audit since I have been here as athletic director. What we are hoping is that during this go-round they take a look at everything. I was in direct response to some of the issues in relation to the NCAA and we have worked the last two years to resolve the problem.

UO: What is the current status regarding QB Arvell Nelson?

CM: We are not going to release any information at this time as most of the matter is personal and confidential. Other than the facts, we will continue to state that is a one-time issue that had nothing to do with his eligibility. We just had to make the necessary call for the benefit of the team.



UO: Do you feel that a championship foundation has been laid within athletics now that the football team is now SWAC champions?

CM: Well, that’s ultimately what we hope. Winning a football championship is a very difficult proposition. There have only been a handful of teams throughout the decades who have won back-to-back championships. We feel that we have the foundation in order to do that but there are things that we have to occur. The new stadium is now on line and we will begin play in fall 2012. We are rich in talent and we have the tools in order for us to be good for a long time.

UO: What is the current status with the Labor Day Classic?

CM: We will not be playing in the Classic. Prairie View has agreed to play in the 2011 SWAC/MEAC challenge which falls on Labor Day weekend. Texas Southern and Prairie View will play the following Saturday with TSU as the home team.



UO: Thanks again for this opportunity to interview you.

CM: You’re very welcome.

Athletics: TSU Softball picked to win SWAC West

The Southwestern Athletic Conference issued their projected winners of the respective Eastern and Western divisons for the 2011 softball season along with Preseason Player of the Year Honors and First and Second Team All-SWAC. Here is the following link. http://bit.ly/fAvNmT