Tigers Look To Rebound Against Mississippi Valley State Tuesday Night

• The Texas Southern men’s basketball team is back in action Tuesday night as they’ll host Mississippi Valley State in their lone match-up of the season. The first match-up between both teams didn’t take place due to injuries sustained by MVSU. The Tigers are in the midst of a busy stretch of games from this point as this marks the second of seven scheduled games over a 13-day period.

• The Tigers saw their five-game winning streak end in emotional fashion Sunday evening after a loss to Prairie View A&M. Since an 0-2 start in SWAC play, TSU has won five of the last six games.

• This marks the third year for TSU head coach Johnny Jones. Jones went 24-14 in his inaugural year as head coach with three Power 5 conference wins. TSU fell in the finals of the 2019 SWAC Tournament and competed in the CIT. TSU advanced to the semifinals of the CIT in 2019. Last season, the Tigers made it back to the semifinals of the SWAC Tournament after a third-place regular season finish but saw the season end abruptly due to COVID-19.

• Head coach Johnny Jones is 80-73 all-time in the month of February and 14-5 at TSU. 

• Jones is 5-0 lifetime against Mississippi Valley State and 4-0 at TSU.

• Mississippi Valley State is ranked 10th in the SWAC standings with its lone win over Alabama State. Despite the numbers, MVSU has four players in double figures led by Kiondre Jefferson (15.7), Kam’Ron Cunninham (13.6), Caleb Hunter (12.0) and Terry Collins (12.0). Jefferson also lead in rebounds with 7.5 per game.

• TSU has won seven straight over MVSU dating back to 1-23-17 and also has won 15 of the past 16 games. 

• TSU was tabbed as the preseason favorite to win the 2020-21 SWAC title in the annual preseason poll with nine lettermen returning and three starters. The Tigers also had a trio of student-athletes earn preseason honors as Yahuza Rasas and Justin Hopkins were named to the first team while Chris Baldwin received second team honors. Experience won’t be an issue as four of the five newcomers are NCAA Division I transfers who sat out last season due to NCAA rules.

• TSU takes the term “home, sweet home” to heart as the Tigers are 107-25 inside the H&PE Arena since 2008. TSU has won nine-plus games at home every year since the 2010-11 season.