G-Men too much from start
TSU can’t recover after falling behind by 25 in first half
Grambling State came into the H&PE Arena with an edge and brimming with confidence. Why not? The G-Men shared the top spot in the Southwestern Athletic Conference standings and were riding a nine-game win streak that had vaulted them from last place in the league to first.
Three seconds into Monday night’s game, Grambling State already was at the foul line and had the lead. Five minutes in, Grambling State was up by nine points.
At one point in the first half, Grambling State led by as many as 25 points before TSU stormed back to make a game of it, getting within nine points midway through the second half. But the deficit proved too great to overcome for Texas Southern, which came up short 78-55 in the battle of Tigers.
It was a crushing defeat for TSU. A victory would have put the Tigers (7-18, 7-5 Southwestern Athletic Conference) only a half-game behind Grambling State (14-12, 10-3) in the league standings.
“I apologize to our fans because they expect a great year every year out of us, and expect guys to come out and fight and play,” Texas Southern coach Mike Davis said. “We’re not getting that out of some of those guys. We’re going to move on and try to be the best team that we can have. We’re not getting great effort.”
Trayvon Reed, a 7-2 transfer from Auburn, did not play in the second half and had only two points and one rebound in 12 minutes. Grambling State outrebounded TSU 46-24.
“It’s going to be very difficult to see (him) again,” Davis said. “I gave guys a great opportunity to come here and be basketball players and unfortunately we’re not living up to the standards of Texas Southern.”
Grambling State, which swept the season series, pretty much had its way with TSU, especially in the first half with guards Ivy Smith Jr. and Shirmane Thomas running the show. Smith scored a game-high 22 points and Thomas chipped in 10, all in the first half, as Grambling State roared to a 41-19 halftime advantage.
TSU got within 54-45 on a 3-pointer with 10:42 remaining from Donte Clark, who had 19 points, six rebounds, five assists and three steals. Demontrae Jefferson totaled 16 points for Texas Southern on 6-of-20 shooting.
TSU had trouble shooting from the outside, finishing at the rim and rebounding. It made 21 of 55 of its field-goal attempts, including 3-of-16 on 3-pointers.
It also was outhustled. It’s difficult to win like that.
Grambling State last lost Jan. 6 — 80-69 at Southern.
“That Grambling team is a championship team,” Davis said. “You don’t win (10 consecutive games) unless you’re playing at a high level. I knew this game was going to be difficult, and we didn’t respond.”