The Bison claimed their second championship title in the last three seasons and clinch the MEAC’s automatic bid to the NCAA Championship Tournament. Howard will learn their future opponent tomorrow, Sunday, March 17, on selection Sunday when the NCAA releases the bracket live on CBS at 6:00 P.M. EST. n

Jordan Hairston had 18 points to lift Howard to a 70-67 win over a scabby Delaware State team Saturday to win its second consecutive Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) title and earn a return trip to the NCAA Basketball Champion against an opponent to be determined.n

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The NCAA Selection Show will be conducted Sunday at 6 p.m. on CBS.n

The Bison, the tourney’s fourth seed, also got 16 points each from Seth Towns and Bryce Harris, and 15 from Marcus Dockery in the win. Howard improved to 18-16 on the year.n

Towns also pulled down eight boards to tie for game rebounding honors in the win, while Harris added seven boards and Isiah Warfield six in the win.n

The Hornets, who had played the role of “giant-killer” with wins over third-seeded South Carolina State and North Carolina Central, the second seed, was led by Jevin Muniz with 24 points and Martaz Robinson with 16, along with eight rebounds and three assists in the loss. The Hornets ended their season at 15-18.n

Delaware State was in the MEAC finals for the first time since 2015 and was seeking its first tournament title since the 2005 campaign. Howard will be making its second straight appearance in the “Big Dance.” The Bison lost to Kansas last season.n

WE PRESENT TO YOU YOUR 2024 MENS MEAC BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS!!! @WellsFargo
MEACHoops pic.twitter.com/NOmvCY44dJ

— Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (@MEACSports) March 16, 2024

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Howard took an early 19-9 lead in the game with 13:54 on the first-half clock and took a 40-34 lead at the half. The Hornets, who had come from behind in their earlier wins in the quarterfinals and semifinals, made another comeback and seized a 42-40 edge with just under 17 minutes left, before Harris, who had been limited to just four free throws in the opening half, got his first field goal of the game with 16:22 on the clock to give his team a 44-42 cushion. n

The Bison increased their lead to 47-42 but Muniz led a Hornet charge that gave his team a 50-49 edge with 13:10 showing. Delaware State grabbed a 55-49 lead with a 5-0 spree with 10:50 remaining but the seesaw battle continued and was deadlocked at 56-all after Harris made one of two from the line for Howard with 7:26 to play.n

Following three ties, the last at 60-60 with 4:39 on the clock, Delaware State went over four minutes without a point as Howard took a 66-60 lead, one it would not relinquish. Delaware State could only get to within two, 68-66, the rest of the way.n

Howard’s Blakeney praised the play of Coach Stan Waterman’s Hornet squad and the fight the underdogs brought to the contest, and lauded the play of his team, especially Harris down the stretch.n

“First of all, I’d like to give kudos to Coach Stan Waterman and his team,” Blakeney said. “In all of my years of coaching and being around basketball, I have not seen a season like this. We used 13 different lineups due to injuries and COVID.n

“We really shot the 3-point basket well in the first half, but they made adjustments at the half,” he continued. “This allowed Bryce more room inside and that proved to be very effective for us down the stretch.”n

Waterman praised his team’s effort and noted the experience of Howard, which he said was key in the outcome of the contest.n

“A huge factor was the experience of Howard,” Waterman said. “They have been here before. My hats off to Coach Blakeney and his team and we wish them well in the NCAA playoffs.”n

2024 MEN’S BASKETBALL ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAMn

• MOST OUTSTANDING COACH – KENNETH BLAKENEY, HOWARD
• MOST OUTSTANDING PLAYER – JORDAN HARISTON, HOWARD
• JORDAN HAIRSTON, HOWARD
• BRYCE HARRIS, HOWARD
• SETH TOWNS, HOWARD
• MARTAZ ROBINSON, DELAWARE STATE
• JEVIN MUNIZ, DELAWARE STATE

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“Last year when we went, there is a special feeling that you get when you see that NCAA March Madness banner as you approach the arena,” Coach Larry Vickers said. “I think we were happy to be there last year. But we now feel that if we rebound the basketball, play defense make some of those shots, we can play with anybody.”

Kierra Wheeler had a game-high 20 points and also managed to grab 15 rebounds. Diamond Johnson scored all of her 12 points in the second half for Norfolk State. The Lady Spartans will move on to the NCAA Tournament for the second year in a row with an automatic bid. The NCAA Selection Committee will announce NSU’s pairing the tournament Sunday afternoon.

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“We pride ourselves on our defense and were able to make stops down the stretch,” noted Vickers, the MEAC Coach of the Year and Tournament Outstanding Coach.

“I am disappointed for our players,” Howard head coach Ty Grace in the post-game press conference remarked. “We played hard and did the things that we planned to do. We just came up a little short. Norfolk State is a good basketball team. I am proud of this team.”

They are the champions…AGAIN #MEACHoops | #MEACWBB pic.twitter.com/TWYfxNLGTx

— Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (@MEACSports) March 17, 2024

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Graduate guard Iyanna Warren scored a team-best 19 points for the Lady Bison, while Kaiya Creek added eight points and six rebounds.

The following is the 2024 MEAC All-Tournament team:

• Kierra Wheeler, Norfolk State
• Iyanna Warren, Howard University
• Laila Lawrence, Coppin State
• Kaiya Creek, Howard University
• Diamond Johnson was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Performer, while her head coach Larry Vickers was named Tournament Most Outstanding Coach.

“It is amazing to accomplish something new in Grambling State history,” Coach Jackson told HBCU Legends. He continued, “Because it’s such a rich tradition of history when it comes to athletics. When you think of Grambling, and you think of all the greats that walked that campus, I mean to accomplish something somebody else hasn’t done. It’s a surreal moment.”

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FIRST HALF

Grambling State dominated Texas Southern in the first half, using an outstanding 56% shooting from the floor and a ferocious defense to stymie senior guards PJ Henry and Jonathan Cisse to five points. GSU forward Jourdan Smith was on fire after scoring 16 points in the first half, with nine points coming from hitting three treys from downtown Birmingham. He ended the game as the Tigers’ leading scorer with 20 points, three rebounds, and a pair of assists.

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SECOND HALF

The Tiger’s leader, senior guard Tra’Michael Moton, was held scoreless during the period but contributed with six assists and one rebound. However, the senior guard got his team cranking after two tense encounters, flagrant fouls, and jarring between squads on the floor. As the momentum started to switch during a Texas Southern run to get the margin to single digit, Moton displayed why he’s the team’s leader and was named the 2024 SWAC Men’s Basketball Tournament Most Valuable Player.

“Tra’Michael Moton is an amazing kid. He’s quiet, a leader, and a leader by example. But when he speaks, everybody listens. It’s great to see him in this moment and capitalize.”

Each time TSU gained ground, Moton and his teammates responded with “Big Play” after “Big Play.” Moton’s trey with 2:47 gave the G-Men a 71-58 lead en route to securing the SWAC title. “He [Moton] was like, ‘I got us coach!” I mean, what confidence. I love that kid,” Jackson praised Moton.

THE M-V-P

Congratulations to @gsutigers_mbb , Tra’Michael Moton for being named the 2024 @StarryLemonLime SWAC Men’s Basketball Tournament presented by @Buick MVP!

He finished tonight’s performance with 8 points, 7 assists, and 2 steals#SWACMBB | #BuildingChampionsForLife pic.twitter.com/ZO8NY3W6ta

— Southwestern Athletic Conference (@theswac) March 17, 2024

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WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE GRAMBLING TIGERS

Jackson remarked, “People would say we don’t make the tournament. You can find something else to talk about!”

Grambling State University Basketball will await the NCAA Selection Committee’s announcement of its tourney seeding on Selection Day Sunday. An early ESPN forecast has the Tigers as a No. 16 seed to face Montana State in the first round. Nevertheless, Coach Jackson and the new “Kings of the SWAC” will continue dancing from last night to the “Big Dance.”

Congratulations, Grambling State Tigers!

NOTABLE GAME STATS

Grambling State Tigers

• Jourdan Smith – 20 points
• Jonathan Aku – 6 rebounds
• Tra’Michael Moton – 7 assists

Texas Southern Tigers

• Jonathan Cisse – 21 points
• Deon Stroud – 16 points, 5 rebounds
• Jaylen Wysinger – 2 assists

Related: Coach Tomekia Reed Guides The Jackson State Lady Tigers To Win Her Third SWAC Women’s Basketball Tournament Title, Earns Trip To NCAA

“I’m extremely proud of my players,” Coach Reed said about her team. I thought we got after it early. Our thing was not to get off the gas. We’ve seen teams in the tournament lose leads. We wanted to make sure that we stayed on top.”

Her players listened by putting the pedal to the metal in the first period, leading 8-0. Alcorn finally made its first basket with 4:33 left in the first off a Destiny Brown three-pointer.

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OVERCOMING LAST YEAR’S DISSAPPOINMENT, NEW PLAYERS ROLE IN THE VICTORY

One of the problems Reed and her staff addressed in the offseason was to recruit players who were focused on bringing the SWAC Championship Trophy back to Jackson, Mississippi.

“We didn’t want to feel what we felt last year in the tournament. So they did a great job of going out and getting players on the team that fit our system, players who were tough, players who could help us bring this trophy back home,” Reed told HBCU Legends.  One of those players was sharpshooter Andriana Avent, who left Texas Southern to join the Lady Tigers and become the 2024 SWAC Tournament’s Most Valuable Player.

Avent scored 17 points, four rebounds, and a block, which drove her team’s win. Ti’lan Boler scored 13 points and seven rebounds, while Haylei Breland hit three triples off the bench for 11 points in the victory.  

THEE M-V-P

Congratulations to @GoJSUTigersWBB , Andriana Avent for being named the 2024 @starrylemonlime SWAC Women’s Basketball Tournament presented by @Buick MVP!

She finished today’s game with 17 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 block. #SWACWBB | #BuildingChampionsForLife pic.twitter.com/Fl9IhEzpZu

— Southwestern Athletic Conference (@theswac) March 17, 2024

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Nakia Cheatham and Kiar Henderson each contributed 10 points as the Braves fell against the stifling Tigers’ defense.

Jackson State’s bench players scored 41 points, while Alcorn State’s bench only managed 18 points. With 17 points off of turnovers and 13 second-chance points, the Lady Braves were outmatched on all levels. 

Reed reflected on the emotional toll losing to Southern University in last year’s semifinal had on the players, coach, and herself. “It was bad. You know? The way we were crying and players passing out and were hyperventilating. It was bad.”

THEE 2024 SWAC CHAMPIONS

The Jackson State women’s basketball program notches it’s ninth SWAC title with a 68-44 win over Alcorn State! This marks the third title in the @CoachTReed’s era#TheeILove | #SWACWBB | #GoJSUTigersWBB pic.twitter.com/i6nBYX2U93

— Jackson State Women’s Basketball (@GoJSUTigersWBB) March 16, 2024

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REED WINS THIRD SWAC TOURNAMENT

Reed won her third SWAC Tournament Championship title since 2018. She’s also the four-time SWAC Coach of the Year (2020, 2022, 2023, 2024) and will lead her team into the 2024 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament with an automatic berth because of winning the SWAC.  

Jackson State received one vote in the AP Poll for Top 25 placement for two weeks.

“I told them all the time, you know, you know, we supposed to bring the the champ the championship back home. Like, we we can’t we can’t do this anymore. We can’t lose like that again,” Reed noted. “We have brought this program to great heights. We have done some amazing things. This is not something we just started doing today.”

REED HAS A ‘SLIGHT CONCERN’ ABOUT NCAA SELECTION

Reed confessed that she’s “slightly concerned” about the NCAA Selection Committee’s decision to seed the Lady Tigers. “I just really hope that we get a chance… I’m just hoping that they give us an opportunity to really be against the team so we can showcase our talent. And so, you know, we are ready to go dancing. We are ready. We’ve been waiting for this moment. That’s all our players have been talking about.”

Tonight is a time to celebrate. Tomorrow, the Jackson State Lady Tigers will know their opponent at the Big Dance. Are they ready to shock the world again?

We shall see.

The Texas Southen Tigers seek a fourth-consecutive automatic berth to the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. Surprisingly, the Grambling State Tigers have never received an automatic bid to the big dance.

“We won on each other’s floor. We won at Grambling,” Coach Johnny Jones said about the G-Men. “They won at our place, and it’s a team that we played in the championship last year…They’re a very good team. They’re very talented.”

The teams split the regular season with losses at home for each. TSU won the first game, 54-52, and Grambing notched the second one, 66-63. The margin for both wins was only four points. Tonght’s title game will be another close match.

In his presser, head coach Donte Jackson remarked, “Texas Southern, they’ve been the kings of the SWAC…, it doesn’t matter whether we play Blue Moon State. We got to come ready to play.”

The matchups to watch are the TSU Tigers’ senior guards, P.J. Henry and Jonathan Cisse, going blow-for-blow against GSU guards Tra’Michael Moton and Kintavious Dozier.

Grambling has a slight field goal efficiency edge over Texas Southern at 48.6% to 47.6%. Another is the free throw ratio, which calculates free throw attempts to free goal attempts. Should the game be close during clutch time, GSU has a 27.1% ratio versus TSU’s 21.8%.

The H-Town Tigers, with Grayson Carter and Kenny Hunter leading the way, are excellent rebounders, having the team ranked 41st in the nation, averaging 37.6 rebounds.

The GSU Tigers are 15th in the nation, allowing an average of 62.2 points, while TSU surrenders 71.9 PPG.

Keep an eye on Texas Southern X-Factor guard Jaylen Wysinger. He logged productive time in the victory against Alabama A&M. We’ve watched him be a spark plug for the team this season, subbing for PJ Henry.   

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Texas Southern vs. Grambling State Championship Game Info

• Date: Saturday, March 16, 2024
• Time: 8:30 PM CT/9:30 PM ET
• Location: Birmingham, Alabama
• Venue: Bartow Arena
• Live Stream: ESPNU or fuboTV (click here)
• Radio Broadcast: Texas Southern Radio – Larry “Chattabox” Hale (Play-by-play)
• Coaches: Donte Jackson (Grambling State), Johnny Jones (Texas Southern)
• Team Records: No. 3 – Texas Southern Tigers (16-15, 12-6 SWAC); No. 1 – Grambling Tigers (19-14, 14-4 SWAC)

Texas Southern vs. Grambling State SWAC Title Prediction

• Prediction: Texas Southern Wins
• Spread: 1.0 points
• Total Prediction: 123 total points

2024 SWAC Power Rankings

2nd – Texas Southern (16-15)

• National rank: 250th
• Strength of schedule rank: 316th
• Projected record: 16-15
• Last game: 72-65 win over Alabama A&M
• SWAC Offense: 6th – 70.3 PPG
• SWAC Defense: 4th – 70.6 PPG
• SWAC Margin of Victory: 3rd – (-0.3) PPG

7th – Grambling State (19-14)

• National rank: 268th
• Strength of schedule rank: 311th
• Projected record: 17-15
• Last game: 65-53 win over Bethune-Cookman
• SWAC Offense: 10th – 67.4 PPG
• SWAC Defense: 2nd – 69.1 PPG
• SWAC Margin of Victory: 8th – (-8.4) PPG

Texas Southern Projected Starters

• PJ Henry: 15.3 PPG
• Jonathan Cisse: 13.3 PPG
• Grayson Carter: 7.3 PPG
• Deon Stroud: 6.5 PPG
• Kenny Hunter: 5.3 PPG

Grambling State’s Projected Starters

• Tra’Michael Moton: 11.9 PPG
• Kintavious Dozier: 13.2 PPG
• Antwan Barnett: 9.9 PPG
• Jourdan Smith: 9.4 PPG
• Jalen Johnson: 7.8 PPG

Related: Texas Southern’s Johnny Jones Reflects On His 400th Victory As A Head Coach After Season Finale Against Prairie View A&M

The Lady Tigers head coach Tomekia Reed and Lady Braves head coach Nate Kilbert lead their teams to the big game in 2024. Last season, JSU lost a heartbreaker on a last-second shot by Southern University in the 2023 semifinal game.

Reed’s mission was clear for 2024: Return to the SWAC Championship and NCAA Women’s Tournament. “This team is hungry,” Reed said in her semifinal postgame interviews. “This team is resilient. This team is very disciplined, and there’s a lot of experience on this team, and that’s what makes this team special.”

Should JSU or ASU win today’s game, they will receive an automatic berth in the 2024 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament.

Coach Reed respects the Lady Braves, saying, “Alcorn is playing really good basketball. Alcorn had several winning streaks throughout the season. I mean, they’re just a good team overall.”

Defensively, Alcorn State holds opponents to 62.8 points per contest and will pressure Jackson State should they have another slow start. The Lady Tigers have the best defense, holding teams to an average of 57.0 points.

“If you don’t get over 60, you have a hard time beating us,” Coach Nate Kilbert mentioned in his press conference. And if we’re scoring the ball, you’re in trouble because we’re going to keep the game low because we play at a certain pace.”

The Lady Braves and Lady Tigers will clash tonight to determine who will wear the championship crown in a battle of willpower and grit!

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Alcorn State vs. Jackson State Championship Game Info

• Date: Saturday, March 16, 2024
• Time: 4:30 PM CT/5:30 PM ET
• Location: Birmingham, Alabama
• Venue: Bartow Arena
• Live Stream: ESPNU or fuboTV (click here)
• Radio Broadcast: Jackson State Radio – Rob Jay (Play-by-play)
• Coaches: Nate Kilbert (Alcorn State), Tomekia Reed (Jackson State)
• Team Records: No. 1 Jackson State Lady Tigers (25-6, 18-0 SWAC); No. 6 Alcorn State Lady Braves (12-19, 8-10 SWAC).

2024 SWAC Women’s Basketball Power Rankings

1st – Jackson State (25-6)

• National Rank: 73rd
• Strength of Schedule Rank: 260th
• Projected Record: 24-6
• Latest Result: 70-48 win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff
• SWAC Offense: 2nd – 71.7 PPG
• SWAC Defense: 1st – 57.0 PPG
• SWAC Margin of Victory: 1st – 14.7 PPG

7th – Alcorn State (12-19)

• National Rank: 279th
• Strength of Schedule Rank: 241st
• Projected Record: 11-20
• Latest Result: 61-59 win over No. 2 Grambling State
• SWAC Offense: 11th – 54.4 PPG
• SWAC Defense: 6th – 62.8 PPG
• SWAC Margin of Victory: 8th – (-8.4) PPG

Jackson State vs. Alcorn State SWAC Title Prediction

• HBCU Legends’ Prediction: Jackson State Wins
• Spread: JSU by 8.0 points
• Total Points Prediction: 111 total points
• Offensive MVP Prediction: Ti’lan Boler
• Defensive MVP Prediction: Angel Jackson
• X-Factors: Maya Crump and Areyanna Hunter

Alcorn State Projected Starters

• Destiny Brown: 12.8 PTS, 7.6 REB, 1.9 AST
• Nakia Cheatham: 9.5 PTS, 7.5 REB, 0.9 AST
• Kiarra Henderson: 5.1 PTS, 3.7 REB, 1 AST
• Tyginae Wright: 6.1 PTS, 2.4 REB, 3 AST
• Zy’Nyia White: 11.8 PTS, 3.8 REB, 1 AST

Jackson State Projected Starters

• Angel Jackson: 10.1 PTS, 6.8 REB, 0.9 AST
• TI’lan Boler: 11.6 PTS, 3.8 REB, 0.8 AST
• Keshuna Luckett: 7 PTS, 2.5 REB, 3.8 AST
• Miya Crump: 11.7 PTS, 6.3 REB, 1.4 AST
• Andriana Avent: 12.1 PTS, 3.1 REB, 0.5 AST

Related: Coach Tomekia Reed And The Lady Tigers Are Ready To Reclaim The SWAC Championship And A Bid To The NCAA Tournament

Jonathan Cisse scored a game-high 18 points, four assists, and three rebounds.

“Alabama A&M is a really tough team,” Cisse said in a postgame interview. “They came out real prepared. Deon [Stroud] hit a big shot. I kind of struggled tonight, but all my teammates came through, and we’re in the championship. That’s all that matters.”

It was close, intense and a total team effort as @TSUMensHoops is back in @theswac title game for the 11th time in 15 seasons! See you tomorrow at 8:30 pm! https://t.co/yd7uqO0AoK

— Texas Southern University (TSU) Athletics (@TXSOTigers) March 16, 2024

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Deon Stroud (18), PJ Henry (12), and Jaylen Wysinger (11) each scored in double figures for the reigning SWAC Tournament champions. Johnny Jones’ basketball team went 25 of 58 for 43.1% from the floor on the night.

Cisse felt the difference down the stretch was that Texas Southern was “mentally tough.” We played a tough non-conference schedule, and it prepared us for moments like this. Everybody stepped up tonight. It was a total team effort. Those guys deserve all the credit. We’re here. This feels good.”

Alabama A&M fought the good fight versus the Tigers. Freshman Lorenzo Downey scored 17 points and secured six rebounds with one assist for the Bulldogs.

.@TSUMensHoops survives @Bulldogs_Hoops 72-65. They will advance to the SWAC championship!

They will face off against @gsutigers_mbb tomorrow evening at 9:30 ET/8:30 CT on @ESPNU. #NCAAM #SWACTournament pic.twitter.com/e5yHoSG2CW

— Nia Symone | The Voice of Athletes (@NiaOnAir) March 16, 2024

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FIRST HALF

Texas Southern saw an 11-point lead melt away from cold shooting but kept a 2-point lead over Alabama A&M at halftime, 33-31. The Tiger’s point guard, P.J. Henry, turned his left ankle during the first half and is questionable to return. Wysinger took over the point in relief of Henry.

The Bulldogs chipped away at the lead and knotted the score at 31 with 1:27 on the clock. Cisse buried two free throws, and the Tigers held off AAMU’s last-second layup.

Texas Southern scored 50% from the floor compared to Alabama A&M’s 39%. The Bulldogs had the advantage on the board, with 18 rebounds to 13, and shot ten free throws to the Tigers’ four visits.

The Bulldogs’ Omari Peek scored eight points in the first half, while TSU’s Jonathan Cisse scored nine.

SECOND HALF

PJ Henry returned to the semifinal game in the second half, hitting a 3-pointer to recapture the lead 36-33.

The Bulldogs took their first lead at 43-41 off a 10-0 run until Cisse buried a 3 to reclaim the advantage, 44-43.

Big men Grayson Carter and Kenny Hunter fouled out, and Texas Southern was leading by five points, 63-58, with 4:29 left in the game. EJ Williams failed to convert both free throws, but after a TSU turnover, Osborne hit a shot from beyond the arc to bring the score closer, 63-61.

Downey sunk a 3-pointer to give the Bulldogs a 65-64 lead with 2:10 on the scoreboard. AAMU ‘s Peek bulled over a Tigers defender. On the next possession, Cisse went to the line and split free throws to even the score at 65.

Following an Alabama A&M turnover, Cisse passed the ball to Stroud in the left corner where he knocked down a trey for a 68-65 lead. Texas Southern started to capitalize from Bulldogs mistakes and missed shots. 

Wysinger was fouled, stepped to the foul line, and scored both free throws giving TSU a 70-65 lead. 

The Tigers rebounded another AAMU shot when Cisse found Chris Craig near the basket for a wide-open layup. The lead widened to 72-65, and Texas Southern secured the victory in a nailbiter.

The “Battle of the Tigers” will feature No. 2 Texas Southern against No. 1 Grambling State in Saturday’s title game. The tip-off will begin at 8:30 PM CT, and ESPNU will broadcast the match at Bartow Arena in Birmingham, Alabama.

Andriana Avent (19), Angel Jackson (11), and Maya Crump (10) were in double figures. Jackson also cleared 12 rebounds and swatted six blocks, while Keshuna Luckett dished four assists in the victory.

UAPB’s Kaila Walker scored 19 points, and Zaay Green scored 15 points in the loss.

FINAL SCORE The Tigers are headed to the SWAC Championship game tomorrow at 4:30pm versus Alcorn State#TheeILove | #SWACWBB |#GoJSUTigersWBB pic.twitter.com/xbv5ysi4oy

— Jackson State Women’s Basketball (@GoJSUTigersWBB) March 16, 2024

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FIRST HALF

JSU scored the first 10 points of the contest. At 5:35 in the first half, the Lady Golden Lions made a basket. They eventually rattled off an 8-1 run, but Jackson State’s defense has been the game’s story. The 2nd-leading scorer in the SWAC, Zaay Green, was limited to five points in the first half.

JSU head coach Tomekia Reed said before addressing her team in the locker room, “We saw Arkansas Pine Bluff shot the ball exceptionally well yesterday. So we want to make sure that we came out in defense of the three-point line and also be at the defense, of course, on the inside as well. I think what our defense and rebounding the ball is giving us an opportunity to be great on offense.

Jackson State scored 39% from the floor and held UAPB to 25%. JSU cleared the glass with 26 rebounds compared to the Lady Golden Lions’ 17. Angel Jackson helped to dominate the paint as JSU led inside with 14 points to 4 scored by UAPB. Jackson missed six free throws in the half.

“I want to see us execute a little bit better right now we kind of just pushing the transition to just give them what they give us. But I want us to execute a little bit more down the stretch,” Reed said.

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SECOND HALF

The second half was much the same as the first half. UAPB never threatened JSU in the second half.

Jackson State used its deep bench, which netted 15 points and 12 second-chance points, to eventually pull away from UAPB. Avent and Boler scored 23 of the Lady Tigers’ 32 second-half points.

Senior Zaay Green ended her career at Arkansas-Pine Bluff with 15 points, nine rebounds, and five assists. Coach Dawn Thornton’s bench only contributed six points in the game.

Tomekia Reed kept her word in preventing another semifinal letdown like the one JSU had against Southern last season in the tournament. It will be an “All-Mississippi Championship Game” as the No. 1 Jackson State will host No. 6 Alcorn State in the final contest. 

The tip-off will be at 4:30 PM CT inside Bartow Arena on Saturday, March 16. JSU opens as a heavy favorite. Will the Lady Tigers again hoist the SWAC Tournament Trophy?

We shall see.

JSU head coach Tomekia Reed said before addressing her team in the locker room, “We saw Arkansas Pine Bluff hit the ball extremely well yesterday. So we want to make sure that we came out in defense of the three-point line and also be at the defense, of course, on the inside as well. I think what our defense and rebounding the ball is giving us an opportunity to be great offensive. 

Jackson State scored 39% from the floor and held UAPB to 25%. JSU cleared the glass with 26 rebounds, compared to the Lady Golden Lions’ 17. Angel Jackson helped to dominate the paint as JSU led inside with 14 points to 4 scored by UAPB. Jackson missed six free throws in the half.

“I want to see us execute a little bit better right now we kind of just pushing the transition to just give them what they give us. But I want us to execute a little bit more down the stretch,” Reed said.

Jackson State leading scorer of the first half was Ti’lan Boler with 11 points, Maya Crump added six.

Jonathan Cisse has continued with the hot hand for TSU, scoring a game-high 24 points and notched team highs with eight rebounds and six assists. P.J. Hunter posted 19 points and three rebounds in the victory.

The Texas Southern offense and defense were impressive. They shot 46% from the field and held Jackson State to 32%. More importantly, they limited the SWAC Offensive Player of the Year, Ken Evans Jr., to 16 points and scored in the paint on the SWAC Defensive Player of the Year, Jordan O’Neal, with ease. Coltie Young led the Tigers with 22 points.

The H-Town Tigers dominated the game by scoring 26 points in the paint, while JSU only managed 16. TSU led for all but 54 seconds of the game.

Texas Southern will play No. 7 Alabama A&M at 8:30 PM CT on Friday, March 15, in the 2024 Starry SWAC Men’s Basketball Tournament semifinal.

Texas Southern aims to make history by winning the SWAC Basketball Championship and earning a bid to the NCAA Tournament for the fourth consecutive time, which has never been achieved before. If they succeed, it will be their eighth championship win in just 11 seasons.