Texas Southern Tigers Win Close Game Against Alabama A&M Bulldogs, Will Meet Grambling State Tigers In The SWAC Championship
HOUSTON - The Texas Southern Tigers won a 72-65 nailbiter against Alabama A&M, earning a fourth consecutive trip to Saturday's 2024 Starry SWAC Men's Basketball Tournament Championship Game.
Jonathan Cisse scored a game-high 18 points, four assists, and three rebounds.
"Alabama A&M is a really tough team," Cisse said in a postgame interview. "They came out real prepared. Deon [Stroud] hit a big shot. I kind of struggled tonight, but all my teammates came through, and we're in the championship. That's all that matters."
Deon Stroud (18), PJ Henry (12), and Jaylen Wysinger (11) each scored in double figures for the reigning SWAC Tournament champions. Johnny Jones' basketball team went 25 of 58 for 43.1% from the floor on the night.
Cisse felt the difference down the stretch was that Texas Southern was "mentally tough." We played a tough non-conference schedule, and it prepared us for moments like this. Everybody stepped up tonight. It was a total team effort. Those guys deserve all the credit. We're here. This feels good."
Alabama A&M fought the good fight versus the Tigers. Freshman Lorenzo Downey scored 17 points and secured six rebounds with one assist for the Bulldogs.
FIRST HALF
Texas Southern saw an 11-point lead melt away from cold shooting but kept a 2-point lead over Alabama A&M at halftime, 33-31. The Tiger's point guard, P.J. Henry, turned his left ankle during the first half and is questionable to return. Wysinger took over the point in relief of Henry.
The Bulldogs chipped away at the lead and knotted the score at 31 with 1:27 on the clock. Cisse buried two free throws, and the Tigers held off AAMU's last-second layup.
Texas Southern scored 50% from the floor compared to Alabama A&M's 39%. The Bulldogs had the advantage on the board, with 18 rebounds to 13, and shot ten free throws to the Tigers' four visits.
The Bulldogs' Omari Peek scored eight points in the first half, while TSU's Jonathan Cisse scored nine.
SECOND HALF
PJ Henry returned to the semifinal game in the second half, hitting a 3-pointer to recapture the lead 36-33.
The Bulldogs took their first lead at 43-41 off a 10-0 run until Cisse buried a 3 to reclaim the advantage, 44-43.
Big men Grayson Carter and Kenny Hunter fouled out, and Texas Southern was leading by five points, 63-58, with 4:29 left in the game. EJ Williams failed to convert both free throws, but after a TSU turnover, Osborne hit a shot from beyond the arc to bring the score closer, 63-61.
Downey sunk a 3-pointer to give the Bulldogs a 65-64 lead with 2:10 on the scoreboard. AAMU 's Peek bulled over a Tigers defender. On the next possession, Cisse went to the line and split free throws to even the score at 65.
Following an Alabama A&M turnover, Cisse passed the ball to Stroud in the left corner where he knocked down a trey for a 68-65 lead. Texas Southern started to capitalize from Bulldogs mistakes and missed shots.
Wysinger was fouled, stepped to the foul line, and scored both free throws giving TSU a 70-65 lead.
The Tigers rebounded another AAMU shot when Cisse found Chris Craig near the basket for a wide-open layup. The lead widened to 72-65, and Texas Southern secured the victory in a nailbiter.
The "Battle of the Tigers" will feature No. 2 Texas Southern against No. 1 Grambling State in Saturday's title game. The tip-off will begin at 8:30 PM CT, and ESPNU will broadcast the match at Bartow Arena in Birmingham, Alabama.