Athletics: TSU rallies to defeat Southern 71-63

Texas Southern defeated Southern 71-63 to improve the home win streak to eight. The Tigers’ victory was a mentality changer following the loss at Alabama State on last Monday.

The Tigers fell behind 13-8 seven minutes in the first half. They rallied to tie the score at 11 a few minutes later. Southern’s 3-point shooting gave them a 12-point lead (32-21) with 1:12 remaining.TSU trailed at halftime, 33-24.

The second half was the Kevin Galloway show. Southern’s 50-38 lead midway in the second half dwindled to a TSU 57-56 lead at the 3:53 mark. The game went back and forth for the next minute before TSU began to pull away with momentum-changing shots from Galloway.

TSU iced the game with a 3-point basket from guard Lawrence Johnson-Danner and clutch free-throws en route to the eight point victory.

Kevin Galloway nearly outscored Southern in the second half with 28 points (Jaguars had 30 team points). He also had eight rebounds and four assists. Lawrence Johnson-Danner contributed with 11 points. Harrison Smith had 10 points and four rebounds.

Texas Southern (17-11, 15-2) play their final game of the season against Alcorn State on March 5. Tip-off is at 4:30 PM.

Athletics: Story ideas

Feature on SWAC Bowler of the Year Chantal Jefferson
Off-season report on the TSU football team
Report on the track and field teams as they prepare for the TSU Relays
Story on why the women's basketball team has regressed from last season

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.