Tigers punch their ticket to the Big Dance
Through a winless nonconference schedule, monthly injuries and suspensions and offensive inconsistency, Texas Southern showed occasional flashes of dominance.
That dominance was in evidence Saturday when the Tigers erupted out of the gate against top-seeded Arkansas-Pine Bluff and outlasted the Golden Lions 84-69 in the Southwestern Athletic Conference tournament title game at Delmar Fieldhouse.
The Tigers earned an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament for the second straight season and their fourth appearance in the last five years.
The Tigers (15-19) have been playing their best basketball in the SWAC tournament. For the second consecutive contest they shot at least 75 percent from the field through stretches of the game, building an early 22-11 lead as the defense held Martaveous McKnight — the SWAC Player and Newcomer of the Year — scoreless during that stretch.
“We finally got our whole team together,” TSU coach Mike Davis said. “We just felt like over the last seven games we average 91 points per game — that’s a lot of points. And when you’re putting up those kind of points you have a chance to win a lot.”
Derrick Bruce and Donte Clark spearheaded their first half-scoring effort, netting 13 and 11 points respectively as the Tigers shot 60 percent from the field before the break.
Bruce hit four 3-pointers and finished with 13 points, all in the first half.
But the Golden Lions (14-21) emerged from the locker room more focused. They chipped away at the lead, drawing to within two points with 10 minutes to play.
They came close, but TSU never faltered, maneuvering through and around an aggressive half court press to outshoot (59 percent to 39.7 percent) and outrebound (33 to 29) the Golden Lions.
“We have great speed, great weapons, (and) a 7-2 guy who can shut the paint down,” Davis said. “We’ve got a killer instinct, we just have to control our emotions.”
While Arkansas-Pine Bluff stars McKnight (17) and Travon Harper (21) combined for 38 points, the Tigers didn’t let the duo beat them.
Demontrae Jefferson scored 15 points with seven assists. Bruce, Clark (14) and center Trayvon Reed (17) each added at least 13 points.
Jefferson, who was named the SWAC Tournament MVP, scored six of the final 11 points for the Tigers, all on free throws.
Jefferson finished 11-of-11 from the line.
“I’m just trying to stay focused,” Jefferson said of his team’s play through the SWAC tournament. “This is just the beginning of March Madness.”
The win gives Texas Southern its sixth consecutive SWAC tournament or regular-season title.
“I feel better this year than I’ve ever felt going into the tournament,” Davis said. “This is the first time we have the opportu- nity to go to the NCAA Tournament at every position; we have a legitimate point guard, we have a legitimate big guy (and) a legitimate scorer.”
Last year the Tigers lost to North Carolina in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. They’ll learn their opponent on Sunday evening.
“Last year I thought ‘Wow, North Carolina?’ They lead the country in rebounds, we’re in serious trouble,” Davis said. “But this year no matter who it is we have guys who can play and they don’t fear anybody.”