Tigers to face Alabama State in SWAC Tournament semifinal
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Tigers of Texas Southern University will seek to get closer to another championship Friday when they face Alabama State in the Toyota Southwestern Athletic Conference Tournament semifinal round.
Friday’s game will tip off at 8:30 p.m., and will be aired on ESPN3.
Texas Southern has won the last two SWAC Tournament championships, and four of the last five.
Game 33
Texas Southern Tigers vs. Alabama State
Saturday, Feb. 16 • 5 p.m. • Birmingham, Ala. • Bill Harris Arena
Watch | Listen (KTSU 90.9 FM) | Live Stats | Game Notes (TSU) | Game Notes (ASU)
The Tigers are led by 6-foot-7 forward Jeremy Combs, who was named the SWAC’s Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year. The graduate transfer from Dallas (North Texas/LSU) averaged 16.7 points and a conference-best 8.8 points per game.
In SWAC play, Combs averaged 20.3 points and 10.4 rebounds per game. Both of those figures led the conference.
The Tigers will face Alabama State in the postseason tournament for the third consecutive year. TSU defeated the Hornets in the quarterfinal round in both 2017 and 2018; both of those games were at TSU’s H&PE Arena.
Alabama State is led by 6-foot-3 guard Reginald Gee, who averages a team-high 13.5 points per game and shoots 40.5 percent (49 of 121) from 3-point range. Jacoby Ross, a 5-foot-9 guard, averages 13.0 points per game for the Hornets.
GAME NOTES:
Tournament success
With four conference championships in the last five seasons, the Tigers have 14 of their last 15 games at the SWAC Tournament. The Tigers are playing their first conference tournament game away from Houston since 2012, when they fell 71-69 to Mississippi Valley State in the SWAC championship game.
Patterson heating up
Jalyn Patterson finished two assists shy of a triple-double in the Tigers’ 80-70 win over Southern in the SWAC Tournament opener. Over his last five games, Patterson has averaged 11.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per contest.
Birmingham blues?
The Tigers are playing their first SWAC Tournament game in Birmingham since 2009, when they lost 72-65 to Jackson State in the opening round. Their last tournament win in Birmingham came in 2007, when the Tigers opened the event with a 74-64 win over Alcorn State.
Welcome back, Trayvon!
After missing 13 games with an injury, 7-foot-2 center Trayvon Reed has re-asserted himself in the TSU post. Over his last five games, Reed has averaged 12.0 points and 6.6 rebounds game coming off the Tigers’ bench.
Keep the turnovers down
The Tigers rank third in the SWAC with a +0.38 turnover margin per game. They lead the conference with a 1.02 assist-to-turnover ratio.
Friday’s game will tip off at 8:30 p.m., and will be aired on ESPN3.
Texas Southern has won the last two SWAC Tournament championships, and four of the last five.
Game 33
Texas Southern Tigers vs. Alabama State
Saturday, Feb. 16 • 5 p.m. • Birmingham, Ala. • Bill Harris Arena
Watch | Listen (KTSU 90.9 FM) | Live Stats | Game Notes (TSU) | Game Notes (ASU)
The Tigers are led by 6-foot-7 forward Jeremy Combs, who was named the SWAC’s Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year. The graduate transfer from Dallas (North Texas/LSU) averaged 16.7 points and a conference-best 8.8 points per game.
In SWAC play, Combs averaged 20.3 points and 10.4 rebounds per game. Both of those figures led the conference.
The Tigers will face Alabama State in the postseason tournament for the third consecutive year. TSU defeated the Hornets in the quarterfinal round in both 2017 and 2018; both of those games were at TSU’s H&PE Arena.
Alabama State is led by 6-foot-3 guard Reginald Gee, who averages a team-high 13.5 points per game and shoots 40.5 percent (49 of 121) from 3-point range. Jacoby Ross, a 5-foot-9 guard, averages 13.0 points per game for the Hornets.
GAME NOTES:
Tournament success
With four conference championships in the last five seasons, the Tigers have 14 of their last 15 games at the SWAC Tournament. The Tigers are playing their first conference tournament game away from Houston since 2012, when they fell 71-69 to Mississippi Valley State in the SWAC championship game.
Patterson heating up
Jalyn Patterson finished two assists shy of a triple-double in the Tigers’ 80-70 win over Southern in the SWAC Tournament opener. Over his last five games, Patterson has averaged 11.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per contest.
Birmingham blues?
The Tigers are playing their first SWAC Tournament game in Birmingham since 2009, when they lost 72-65 to Jackson State in the opening round. Their last tournament win in Birmingham came in 2007, when the Tigers opened the event with a 74-64 win over Alcorn State.
Welcome back, Trayvon!
After missing 13 games with an injury, 7-foot-2 center Trayvon Reed has re-asserted himself in the TSU post. Over his last five games, Reed has averaged 12.0 points and 6.6 rebounds game coming off the Tigers’ bench.
Keep the turnovers down
The Tigers rank third in the SWAC with a +0.38 turnover margin per game. They lead the conference with a 1.02 assist-to-turnover ratio.
Courtesy: TSUSports.com
