Men’s Basketball Holds Off Alabama State To Open Homestand With Win

Texas Southern took control of the contest early but had to battle down the stretch as they held off Alabama State for an 80-73 win Saturday inside the H&PE Arena.

Both teams took time to figure each other out with a total of five ties within the first 7:43 of the first half. ASU would claim a 19-18 lead after a pair of free throws but TSU stepped its game up with a 10-2 run which saw them hold ASU to 0-for-6 shooting as they received a balanced scoring effort as four players scored during that span. Leading 28-20 at the 4:45 mark, ASU attempted to claw back and closed to within six but the Tigers held their ground as they shot 4-of-6 to end the half en route to a 37-24 halftime lead.

TSU opened up a 19-point lead with 15:05 left in the second half and was in position to cruise the rest of the way. The Tigers maintained a double-digit lead over the next 11 minutes but had to earn every point as the Hornets wouldn’t go away.

With 4:05 remaining, ASU’s Brandon Battle dunked off a Kenny Strawbridge pass and cut the deficit to eight points at 73-65. TSU’s John Walker III answered with a huge layup off a Jordan Gilliam assist to move back up by 10 but a TSU turnover with 2:01 left allowed ASU to get within nine. The next two minutes were tense for Tiger fans as ASU attempted to pull off its second straight double-digit comeback. The Hornets outscored TSU 8-1 during that span and closed the gap to 76-73 at the 35 second mark. ASU fouled John Jones on the ensuing possession and he nailed two free throws to move TSU ahead 78-73. ASU missed its next two shot attempts and Michael Weathers nailed two free throws to move TSU up by seven and ultimately clinch the contest.

Weathers and Walker III both led TSU with 18 points apiece while Karl Nicholas came off the bench and added energy as he tied for a team-high nine rebounds along with eight points. Galen Alexander added nine rebounds while Weathers also logged seven rebounds, five assists, three blocks and three steals.

TSU is back in action Monday night versus Alabama A&M at 7:30 p.m. inside the H&PE Arena.