Tigers Claw Back For Important Win Over UAPB

In a game that is close throughout, it is sometimes hard to pick what was the decisive statistic that aided the win, but when a 12-8 count in offensive rebounds leads to an 11-6 edge in second chance points during a 64-59 final, you may just have to give the nod to the rebounding effort from the Texas Southern University men’s basketball team as to what earned them the victory.

TSU (11-17, 7-8 SWAC) is now in a tie for sixth with Prairie View A&M with just three contests left. UAPB (10-18, 6-9 SWAC) drops into a three-way tie for the eighth and final spot in the SWAC postseason tournament.

Trailing 11-9 with 14:25 left in the first half, TSU’s PJ Henry and John Walker III put the team on their backs and combined for a 9-0 run to give the Tigers an 18-11 lead with 12:11 before the break. The game would be as tight as a stripped lugnut throughout the better portion of the first eight minutes fn the second half until the Tigers were able to break free from their restraints and storm their way out to 54-47 lead after having trailed 42-39.

Walker III was a beast during the 17-5 run that lasted 8:41 of clock action going for eight during the stretch.

As close matchups go down the stretch, it was a free-throw festival with both teams combining to go 16-for-23 from charity stripe with TSU making 10-for-13 to seal the deal and take the 64-59 victory.

Chris Greene (23) and Shaun Doss Jr. (20) combined to pour in 43 of the 59 total point points from the Lions. Walker III would finish with 19 and seven rebounds while teammate Henry added 13 points. Kolby Granger and Davon Barnes chipped in 11 points each while Granger led the Tigers with nine rebounds.
 
UP NEXT
The final full weekend road trip is upon us as the Tigers will travel to Mississippi for a pair of games against Jackson State and Alcorn State. Tipoff for Saturday’s game against Jackson State is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. CT while next Monday’s contest at Alcorn State is scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. CT start.