PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas – The Texas Southern University Tigers erased a 10-point halftime deficit Saturday as they scored 56 in the second half en route to an 87-82 win at Prairie View A&M.
Zach Lofton scored a team-high 21 points to lead four TSU players scoring in double figures. The Tigers (7-9) improved to 3-0 in Southwestern Athletic Conference play.
Jalan McCloud came off the TSU bench to score 16 points, which included a 12-for-12 showing at the free throw line. Kevin Scott and Marvin Jones scored 15 points apiece for the Tigers.
Tevin Bellinger scored a game-high 24 points to lead Prairie View A&M (3-14, 0-3 SWAC). Zachary Hamilton chipped in 13 points for the Panthers.
The visiting Tigers trailed 41-31 at halftime but wasted no time chipping away at the deficit as they scored seven unanswered points in the first two minutes of the second time. Jones ignited the run with five points in the first 44 seconds of the half.
TSU seized momentum later in the half during a 15-4 run between the 16:57 and 12:45 marks of the period. Scott scored seven points during the run, which was highlighted by back-to-back 3-pointers from him and Tyree Bynum.
A 10-1 TSU run between the 11:58 and 9:04 marks of the half gave the Tigers a 12-point lead, their largest of the game. Stephan Bennett capped the run with a layup while getting fouled, and then hit the subsequent free throw to stretch TSU’s lead to 68-56.
The Tigers held a seven-point lead with barely three and a half minutes remaining in the game, but PVAMU fought back with a 6-1 run to cut the visitors’ advantage to 79-77. A steal and fast-break layup by Bellinger made it a one-possession game.
The Panthers then forced another turnover to give themselves a chance to tie, but a steal and subsequent pair of free throws by McCloud stretched TSU’s lead back to four with 1:22 left to play. The Tigers sealed the victory at the free throw line, while the Panthers would not get closer than five points for the rest of the contest.
After opening the season with 16 consecutive road games, the Tigers make their home debut Saturday when they host Grambling State. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
Courtesy: TSU Athletics
Other SWAC Recaps
Alabama A&M 79, Mississippi Valley State 76
Quinterian McConico notched a double-double (18 points, 10 rebounds) and Marcus Merriweather made five 3-pointers as Alabama A&M got its first victory of the season, 79-76, over winless Mississippi Valley State on Saturday.
Merriweather’s final 3-pointer put the Bulldogs (1-13, 1-2 SWAC) ahead 79-74. Amos Given cut the lead to three with a tip-in with 28 seconds remaining. Alabama A&M then missed the front end of two bonus opportunities but the Delta Devils (0-15, 0-2) failed on two 3-pointers.
Merriweather, who went 5-of-6 from the arc and scored 17 points, came in 3-of-19 on 3-pointers.
AAMU’s De’Ederick Petty adding 12 points.
Isaac Williams scored 25 points for MVSU and TaJay Henry had 14 points and 13 rebounds.
Southern 87, Grambling State 79
Southern’s Shawn Prudhomme went for 32 points as the Jaguars (6-10, 2-1 SWAC) downed Grambling State (6-10, 1-2) 87-79 on Saturday night.
Prudhomme was 11-of-13 from the field including five 3-pointers for the Jaguars, who led from the opening tip thanks to back-to-back threes by Prudhomme. SUBR began the game on a 21-7 run on its way to a 44-35 advantage at the break.
The Jaguars led throughout the second half. A Tre’lun Banks layup midway gave them their biggest lead, 65-50, with 11:02 to play and they cruised to the win.
Banks added 16 points and four assists, and Emanuel Shepherd and Jared Sam had 12 points apiece. Sam led with 12 rebounds.
Remond Brown scored 24 points for Grambling, and Ervin Mitchell added 21.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff 71, Alabama State 63
Arkansas Pine Bluff had three players in double figures as the Lions got past Alabama State Saturday night 71-63.
Joe’Randle Toliver’s layup with 15:02 to play provided the Golden Lions (3-13, 2-0 SWAC) a double-digit lead of the game at 47-37. Mikel Tyson made a layup to pull the Hornets (3-12, 1-2 SWAC) to within 55-50, but Arkansas Pine-Bluff went on an 11-2 run that included nine straight points by Jaquan Lynch.
Tony Armstrong hit a jumper midway through the first half to put Alabama State (3-12, 1-2) out front 21-13. Toliver answered with a three, and the Golden Lions went on a 22-9 run to lead 35-30 at halftime.
For UAPB, Ghiavonni Robinson scored 13 points, Toliver had 12, and Lynch had 11 points and five steals
Steve Rogers led the Hornets with 13 points, Torloft Thomas scored 11 with five boards and five assists and Demetrius Houston had 10 points and eight boards.
