GRAMBLING, LA – After nearly a month of not playing a game, Southern (1-4, 1-0 SWAC) men's basketball team picked up its first win of the season to open Southwestern Athletic Conference play with a 61-55 victory over Grambling State (3-6, 1-1 SWAC) Saturday in the Frederick C. Hobdy Assembly Center.
Redshirt Freshman Terrell Williams Jr. led Southern with a career/season-high 18 points. He was 6-of-9 (66.7%) from the field, 3-of-3 (100%) on 3-pointers and was 3-of-5 (60%) from the free throw line. Graduate transfer Harrison Henderson had his first career double-double for the Jags finishing with 11 points and 13 rebounds.
"I am very proud of how hard our guys fought and competed tonight especially on the road" said head coach Sean Woods. "Our guys have faced a lot of adversity all year and showed a lot of character versus a quality opponent. Our motto all year has been next man up and tonight our guys were ready."
Southern entered tonights contest shorthanded as the Jaguars were without it's three leading scorers due to Covid-19 quarantine/contact tracing protocols. SU started the game trading baskets back and forth with the Tigers. Lamarcus Lee three pointer with 14:21 gave SU the lead 11-8. GSU went on a 10-0 run before Samkelo Cele made three pointer in which he got fouled and converted the free throw cutting into the Tigers lead 28-22 with 1:40 on the clock. The Jags headed into the locker room trailing, 28-23.
The start of the second half was very similar to the first, as Delor Johnson jumper with 16:16 left in regulation gave SU its first lead of the second half 32-31. GSU went on a 4-0 run with Reyhan Cobb free throw giving the Tigers the lead 37-33 with 14:11 left to play. Jamarcus Jones back-to-back baskets started the Jaguars 7-0 run capped off by Williams three pointer at the 10:57 mark giving SU the 42-37 advantage in which the Jags didn't look back. The Tigers cut into the lead 41-42 before SU went on another 8-0 run behind Williams three pointer giving SU the 50-41 nod with 6:35 on the clock. GSU got as close as two points under a minute left in regulation before clutch free throw shooting by Henderson and Williams extended SU lead to 61-55 sealing the victory.
Southern shot 42.9% from the field (21-49), 44.4% from behind the arc (8-18), shot 50% from the free throw line (11-22) while Grambling was 33.9% from the floor and SU defense held the Tigers to only 17.6% from behind the three point line.
Trevell Cunningham led GSU with 18 points.
UP NEXT
The Jaguars game at Jackson State scheduled for Monday, Jan. 11 has been postponed due to a positive COVID-19 test and subsequent quarantining of student-athletes among the JSU program.
Southern will return to action on Saturday, Jan. 16 when they host University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff at 4:30 pm in the F.G. Clark Activity Center
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