Devilsh1
The Preeminent One!
Like it or not, JSU plays at Houston
Texas Southern is host for tonight's first-round game
By Mark Alexander
[email protected]
As the Southwestern Athletic Conference regular season came to a close, it appeared as if rivals Jackson State and Mississippi Valley State were headed for a first- round showdown in the postseason tournament.
JSU game
Who: Jackson State, 10-17, 9-9 SWAC, at Texas Southern, 15-12, 11-7
When: Today, 7 p.m.
Where: Health & P.E. Arena, Houston
TV: None
Radio: WOAD-1300 AM in Jackson
Instead, Alabama State won at Grambling State on the final day, sending Jackson State on the road to face Texas Southern. Tonight's SWAC Tournament opener tips off at 7 p.m. at the Health and P.E. Arena.
"We really wanted to go to Valley," JSU coach Andy Stoglin said Monday morning minutes before boarding the team bus headed to Houston. "That's who we were mentally prepared to play. We didn't want to go to Texas. That's where the officials make the biggest difference. But that's the hand we were dealt, so we've got to go out there and play."
While Stoglin isn't overly happy about the destination, he is pleased with how his team is playing leading into the tournament. No. 6 seed JSU, 10-17 overall and 9-9 in the SWAC, has won two straight and six of its last eight entering tonight's game against No. 3 seed Texas Southern, 15-12 and 11-7.
"We're playing pretty good right now, and we've got a lot of people ready to play," Stoglin said. "I thought our bench was the difference the other night (81-72 win over Alabama A&M).
Eleven of the 12 JSU players who played in that game Saturday scored. The Tigers also had an inside presence that was lacking earlier this season. Forward Cliff Walker had his second consecutive double-double with 19 points and 14 rebounds, forward Ernest Hassell tied a season-high with eight points, seven rebounds and three blocks and forward Edrick Montgomery contributed six points and five rebounds.
"Cliff is playing at the top of his game," Stoglin said. "His play gives us a springboard going into the tournament."
JSU has gotten more out of its inside game as of late, yet its outside shooting has fallen off. The Tigers, who ranked third in the SWAC in 3-pointers made per game and 3-point percentage during the regular season, have shot just 18.8 percent (10 for 53) from 3-point land in their last three games.
That may not bode well tonight against a Texas Southern team that ranks second in the SWAC in scoring defense.
"We're going to have to make some shots, no doubt," Stoglin said. "We've got to get Tim (Henderson) going. He shot it well the other night, so. . . And you know Ish (Ishmael Joyce) is always an inch away."
JSU and Texas Southern split this season, with Texas Southern winning 65-50 in Houston and JSU winning 80-63 in Jackson.
In the first meeting in Houston, JSU jumped to a 14-point lead in the first half then was outscored 55-26 the rest of the way. The Tigers shot just 26.7 percent in the second half, 1-for-17 from 3-point range. Texas Southern, meanwhile, made 30 of 43 free throws as JSU was whistled for 30 fouls. The Tigers shot only eight free throws.
"We jumped on them early, then they started going to the free-throw line," JSU point guard K.C. Cavette said. "I really think the refs took over that game. But there's no excuses. We've got to go over there and take care of business."
JSU's 17-point win in Jackson a month later sent Texas Southern on a surprising six-game losing streak that dropped it from first to fifth place. Texas Southern regrouped, however, winning its last two games with a reshuffled starting lineup.
"We really needed those two wins," said Texas Southern coach Ronnie Courtney, whose team is led by All-SWAC guard Ra'Kim Hollis. "We played well, and we shot the ball better.
"Jackson State is the one team I didn't want to see. They've improved tremendously the second half of the season. I understand they didn't want to play us either, so it should be interesting."
Semantics aside, Walker feels good about JSU's chances. "I feel confident we're going to go over there and win," he said. "Everybody is understanding their roles better now. I really think we're going to win the tournament."
The Jackson State-Texas Southern winner faces the Valley-Grambling Friday in an 8 p.m. semifinal at Birmingham's Fair Park Arena.
"We know what we've got to do, we've just got to do it," Stoglin said. Send this article as a postcard
Texas Southern is host for tonight's first-round game
By Mark Alexander
[email protected]
As the Southwestern Athletic Conference regular season came to a close, it appeared as if rivals Jackson State and Mississippi Valley State were headed for a first- round showdown in the postseason tournament.
JSU game
Who: Jackson State, 10-17, 9-9 SWAC, at Texas Southern, 15-12, 11-7
When: Today, 7 p.m.
Where: Health & P.E. Arena, Houston
TV: None
Radio: WOAD-1300 AM in Jackson
Instead, Alabama State won at Grambling State on the final day, sending Jackson State on the road to face Texas Southern. Tonight's SWAC Tournament opener tips off at 7 p.m. at the Health and P.E. Arena.
"We really wanted to go to Valley," JSU coach Andy Stoglin said Monday morning minutes before boarding the team bus headed to Houston. "That's who we were mentally prepared to play. We didn't want to go to Texas. That's where the officials make the biggest difference. But that's the hand we were dealt, so we've got to go out there and play."
While Stoglin isn't overly happy about the destination, he is pleased with how his team is playing leading into the tournament. No. 6 seed JSU, 10-17 overall and 9-9 in the SWAC, has won two straight and six of its last eight entering tonight's game against No. 3 seed Texas Southern, 15-12 and 11-7.
"We're playing pretty good right now, and we've got a lot of people ready to play," Stoglin said. "I thought our bench was the difference the other night (81-72 win over Alabama A&M).
Eleven of the 12 JSU players who played in that game Saturday scored. The Tigers also had an inside presence that was lacking earlier this season. Forward Cliff Walker had his second consecutive double-double with 19 points and 14 rebounds, forward Ernest Hassell tied a season-high with eight points, seven rebounds and three blocks and forward Edrick Montgomery contributed six points and five rebounds.
"Cliff is playing at the top of his game," Stoglin said. "His play gives us a springboard going into the tournament."
JSU has gotten more out of its inside game as of late, yet its outside shooting has fallen off. The Tigers, who ranked third in the SWAC in 3-pointers made per game and 3-point percentage during the regular season, have shot just 18.8 percent (10 for 53) from 3-point land in their last three games.
That may not bode well tonight against a Texas Southern team that ranks second in the SWAC in scoring defense.
"We're going to have to make some shots, no doubt," Stoglin said. "We've got to get Tim (Henderson) going. He shot it well the other night, so. . . And you know Ish (Ishmael Joyce) is always an inch away."
JSU and Texas Southern split this season, with Texas Southern winning 65-50 in Houston and JSU winning 80-63 in Jackson.
In the first meeting in Houston, JSU jumped to a 14-point lead in the first half then was outscored 55-26 the rest of the way. The Tigers shot just 26.7 percent in the second half, 1-for-17 from 3-point range. Texas Southern, meanwhile, made 30 of 43 free throws as JSU was whistled for 30 fouls. The Tigers shot only eight free throws.
"We jumped on them early, then they started going to the free-throw line," JSU point guard K.C. Cavette said. "I really think the refs took over that game. But there's no excuses. We've got to go over there and take care of business."
JSU's 17-point win in Jackson a month later sent Texas Southern on a surprising six-game losing streak that dropped it from first to fifth place. Texas Southern regrouped, however, winning its last two games with a reshuffled starting lineup.
"We really needed those two wins," said Texas Southern coach Ronnie Courtney, whose team is led by All-SWAC guard Ra'Kim Hollis. "We played well, and we shot the ball better.
"Jackson State is the one team I didn't want to see. They've improved tremendously the second half of the season. I understand they didn't want to play us either, so it should be interesting."
Semantics aside, Walker feels good about JSU's chances. "I feel confident we're going to go over there and win," he said. "Everybody is understanding their roles better now. I really think we're going to win the tournament."
The Jackson State-Texas Southern winner faces the Valley-Grambling Friday in an 8 p.m. semifinal at Birmingham's Fair Park Arena.
"We know what we've got to do, we've just got to do it," Stoglin said. Send this article as a postcard
