Men’s Basketball Uses Late Run To Defeat Jackson State

TSU outscored Jackson State 19-4 over the final six minutes and had four players score in double figures as they defeated Jackson State 80-70 on Saturday night inside the H&PE Arena.

Texas Southern came out cooking to open the game as they hit four of their first five baskets within the first four minutes to claim an early 9-3 lead but Jackson State countered with five straight points to get within 9-8. The torrid pace would continue on both sides as TSU outscored JSU 10-6 over the next 4:42 as they claimed a 19-14 lead at the 10:24 mark. TSU was on the verge of extending the lead to seven but missed a layup as JSU went on an 8-2 run to claim a 22-21 lead.

TSU turned to Zytarious Mortle for instant offense as the sophomore scored four quick points to regain a 25-22 lead with 6:42 left but JSU fought back as there were three ties over the next five minutes. With 1:04 left, Mortle’s three-point play off an aggressive drive to the paint gave TSU a 32-29 lead but Jackson State’s Ken Evans, Jr. was fouled on the ensuing drive and scored the basket to trail 32-31.

TSU would miss a three-pointer in the final 20 seconds and Evans, Jr. drove the length of the floor for a layup as they regained a 33-32 lead which would remain as the half ended.

The first eight-and-a-half minutes of the second half was intense and back-and-forth as there were nine lead changes and three ties during that span. Jackson State went on a 7-0 run from the 11:27-10:21 mark for a 58-52 lead but TSU answered with a 7-0 run of its own to claim a 59-58 advantage with 8:31 left. From that point, it was a track meet as JSU would claim a 66-61 lead but Jonathan Cisse’s three-pointer closed the gap to 66-64 with 6:05 left. TSU would force a turnover on the ensuing possession and PJ Henry made JSU pay with a three-pointer for a 67-66 TSU lead at the 5:35 mark. Grayson Carter’s layup off a Cisse assist upped the margin to 69-66 but JSU closed the gap to 69-68 one minute later as that margin carried over to the final media timeout of the game.

With 3:26 left, a TSU foul sent JSU to the line as the Tigers were in a bonus situation. JSU missed the free throw attempt and TSU’s Deon Stoud nailed a three-pointer off an offensive rebound for a 72-68 margin. JSU would commit an offensive foul and turnover on its ensuing possession and Mortle would add to the momentum with a big three-pointer for a 75-68 lead with 2:12 left.

JSU cut the margin to 75-70 and TSU missed a potential back-breaking three-pointer with 1:15 left. However, the TSU defense stepped up and forced a JSU turnover with 1:01 left as they attempted a cross court pass. Jackson State was forced to foul from that point to save clock as PJ Henry nailed two free throws for a 77-70 margin. TSU forced another JSU turnover after the buckets and Cisse picked up a big steal and found Deon Stroud for a layup and a 79-70 margin. TSU would add a free throw to close out the game for their fourth straight win.

Henry and Mortle scored 20 points apiece while Cisse added 17 and six assists. Carter scored 13 points and grabbed a team-high eight rebounds.

TSU is back in action on Monday, March 4 against Alcorn State at 7:30 p.m. inside the H&PE Arena.