Jan. 6, 2011
Final Stats
Texas Southern's Travele Jones scored 25 points, including six in overtime, and Texas Southern defeated Southern University 81-74 on Tuesday night in the Southwestern Athletic Conference opener for both teams.
The night started off bad for the Jags as Texas Southern, as the Tigers raced out to a 9-0 lead, before SU's Brandon White got the Jaguars on the scoreboard with a 3-pointer two minutes in.
But a 21-4 run by TSU would have Rob Spivery's Jags fighting back from the largest deficit of the game - 23 points, for the rest of the half. After a series of timeouts, the Jags would settle down and with an uplifted defensive spirit, And as quick as the and deliberate the Tigers were in jumping out to the big lead, Southern U. would fight back, going on a 12-3 run to end the half down 33-19.
Fueled by a solid defensive effort and an energized but small crowd (SU is not in school yet), Southern would slowly and deliberately walk down the much more talented TSU Tigers. A 10-4 Jaguar run to start the second half would get the Jags to within eight at the 17:09 mark at 37-29.
The Tigers were able to regain control and keep the Jaguars at bay, led by Travele Jones' strong inside/outside display, but an 11-0 run by Southern midway thru the half saw the Jags come all the way back to tie the game at 46-46 with 8:16 left to play.
The back and forth game would see six more ties before one of the most exciting finishes at the Mini Dome in recent times.
With the game tied 61-61, TSU's Kevin Galloway drove left against White and scored inside with eight seconds left.
On the ensuing Southern possession, Jameel Grace pulled up in the lane as the clock wound down. It was desperation time, and it appeared for a moment the Jaguars wouldn't get off a shot.
But Grace found White, who shot over two defenders at the top of the key. Officials reviewed the play on a TV monitor, confirming that White's shot was good for two points and not three.
The Tigers scored the first seven points in overtime capped by Jones' layup with 3:44 left for a 71-64 advantage.
Lawrence Danner-Johnson added 18 points and Harrison Smith chipped in 14 for the Tigers. Texas Southern out rebounded the Jaguars 48-32 as Kevin Galloway led the way with 13 boards.
Ray Ray Chase added nine rebounds for SU.
Southern faces Prairie View A&M on Thursday night at the Mini Dome.
