BATON ROUGE, LA — Southern University delivered a wire-to-wire performance Thursday afternoon, overwhelming Mississippi Valley State 69-46 at the F.G. Clark Activity Center to remain unbeaten at home and improve to
5-1 in SWAC play.

Southern led for nearly the entire game, holding Mississippi Valley State scoreless from the field for long stretches while building a lead that grew to 32 points in the fourth quarter.

Jaylia Reed led the Jaguars with 13 points, adding five rebounds and three assists. Jocelyn Tate finished with nine points and six rebounds, and D'Shantae Edwards contributed seven points and a team-high five steals as Southern's pressure defense dictated play from start to finish.

Southern outscored Mississippi Valley State 34-14 in the paint and held a 44-33 rebounding advantage. The Jaguars also received 38 points from the bench, compared to 22 for the Devilettes.

Southern shot 36.6% overall and finished with 18 steals, turning defense into offense throughout the contest.

How the Game Unfolded

Southern opened the game on a 12-3 run, forcing early turnovers and converting them into easy baskets. The Jaguars held MVSU to just 6 points in the first quarter, building a 23-6 lead after one.

Although Southern cooled off offensively in the second quarter, its defense continued to dictate play. Mississippi Valley shot just 1-for-16 (6.3%) from the field in the period, allowing the Jaguars to carry a 30-19 advantage into halftime.

The decisive blow came in the third quarter.

Southern exploded out of the locker room with a 25-8 frame, fueled by transition buckets, offensive rebounds, and perimeter shooting. A 12–0 run midway through the quarter pushed the lead past 20, effectively sealing the outcome.

By the Numbers

    Final Score: Southern 69, Mississippi Valley State 46
    Largest Lead: Southern by 32
    Time With the Lead: Southern – 37:52
    Field Goal %:
        Southern: 36.6% (26–71)
        MVSU: 26.7% (12–45)
    Turnovers:
        MVSU: 24
        Southern: 18
    Rebounds:
        Southern: 44
        MVSU: 33
    Bench Points:
        Southern: 38
        MVSU: 22

Team Statistical Leaders (Southern)

    Jaylia Reed: 13 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists

    Jocelyn Tate: 9 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists

    D'Shantae Edwards: 7 points, 5 steals, 4 assists

    Olivia Delancy: 7 points, key second-chance buckets

    Demya Porter: 4 points, 6 rebounds, 2 blocks

Southern finished with 18 steals, repeatedly jumping passing lanes and forcing Mississippi Valley into rushed decisions

Keys to the Game

    1. Turnover Pressure

Southern forced 24 Mississippi Valley turnovers and converted them into 29 points, repeatedly disrupting offensive sets and turning defense into offense.

    2. Control of the Paint

The Jaguars dominated inside, outscoring MVSU 34-14 in points in the paint, while also holding a significant rebounding edge.

    3. Depth and Bench Production

Southern's bench outscored Mississippi Valley 38-22, allowing the Jaguars to maintain tempo and physicality for all 40 minutes.

    4. Third-Quarter Surge

Southern shot 50% from the field in the third quarter while holding MVSU to 27 points total through three periods, turning a comfortable lead into a rout.

Up Next

Southern continues SWAC play looking to build on its momentum, as they host University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Saturday afternoon at 2:30 PM. The game is slated for a 2:30 PM tip-off and will be streamed live e on SWAC TV.

Tip-off: 2:30 p.m.
Opponent: University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Location: F. G. Clark Activity Center, Baton Rouge, LA
TV: SWAC TV

FOLLOW THE JAGUARS
For complete coverage of Southern University Athletics, please follow the Jaguars on social media at @SouthernUsports(Twitter), @SouthernUJaguars(Facebook), @southernusports(Instagram), or visit the official home of Southern University Athletics at www.gojagsports.com.

#GoJags  #SouthernIsTheStandard #ProwlOn #BeyondTheStandard #DefendingSWACChampions #WeGrindDifferent