Cryor’s Big Game Leads TSU To Win Over Mississippi Valley State

HOUSTON – Ciani Cryor scored 30 points to lead the Texas Southern Tigers to an 88-58 win over the Mississippi Valley State Devilettes. Texas Southern (10-7 overall, 5-1 SWAC) has won six of its last seven ball games. 

Due to power outage issues on Texas Southern’s campus, the game was moved to the Fertitta Center on the University of Houston’s campus. The change in venue did not slow down the Tigers. TSU raced to a 9-0 lead and finished the quarter leading by 20 points (30-10). Six different players scored for TSU in the opening quarter. Niya Mitchell led the Tigers with seven points in the first period while Ataiya Bridges, Cryor, and Richelle Velez each scored six points. TSU shot 59.1 percent (13-for-22) in the first 10 minutes while limiting MVSU to 15.4% (2-for-13) field goal shooting. Texas Southern’s defense also forced Valley into eight turnovers.

Texas Southern’s hot shooting cooled considerably in the second quarter. TSU made only five of its 20 field goals (25%) in the second quarter while Valley improved to 7-for-13 shooting from the floor (53.8%) to outscore Texas Southern 16-13 in the quarter and trim Texas Southern’s halftime lead to 43-26. Cryor scored seven of the Tigers’ 13 points in the second stanza.

The Devilettes outscored the Tigers 7-3 in the first 2:19 of the third quarter to get within 13 points; however, Cryor scored a layup before Richelle Velez drained a three-point basket for a 51-33 TSU lead. Then, during a 10-2 TSU run, Cryor scored seven points while Velez nailed another three-pointer to boost the lead to 61-35 with 4:13 remaining in the third quarter.

Texas Southern led 67-47 at end of the third period. Cryor scored nine points in the third on perfect 4-for-4 field goal shooting and splitting two foul shots. Velez scored six points in the quarter.

Natalia Ready scored the first four points of the fourth quarter for MVSU to trim Texas Southern’s lead to 67-51; but, Mitchell and Velez followed with back-to-back layups to boost TSU’s lead to 20 once again. Neither team scored for nearly two minutes before Mitchell scored another layup for a 73-51 TSU lead with 6:56 remaining in the game. Texas Southern closed out the game with a 15-7 final burst to win by 30.

Cryor finished the game with 30 points, nine assists, five rebounds, and six steals. Mitchell scored 15 points and had nine rebounds. Velez scored 14 points while Bridges scored 10 points off the bench. Texas Southern shot 50.7% (36-for-71) in the ball game and outrebounded Mississippi Valley State 41-27. The Tigers also had 20 assists, 17 steals, and five blocked shots in the game. 

Natalia Ready led the Devilettes with 12 points. MVSU shot 36 percent (18-for-50) in the game and committed 25 turnovers.

Texas Southern’s next game is Monday, Jan. 27, versus Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Tip is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. inside TSU’s H&PE Arena.