Defensive focus helps TSU pull away in second half
Armstrong, Hopkins score 21 apiece to stay on heels of SWAC-leading Prairie View A&M
Grambling State’s Devante Jackson put on quite the show Monday night at H&PE Arena. The 6-9 forward was unstoppable, displaying a deft outside shooting touch.
But that was all in the first half when he scored 20 points. In the second half, Texas Southern shut Jackson completely down, holding him to two points. For its effort, TSU won going away 93-79 in a matchup of Tigers.
The victory was important for TSU, which remained a full game behind first-place Prairie View A&M in the SWAC standings. Grambling entered the contest in a logjam with four other teams for a share of third place.
“This was our most complete game we’ve played in conference, playing a tough Grambling basketball team” TSU coach Johnny Jones said. “To do this against a competitive team is exciting for us.”
TSU (12-13, 9-3 SWAC) received a big overall performance from 5-10 senior guard Tyrik Armstrong, who put up 21 points driving to the basket as well as hitting shots from the outside.
Justin Hopkins matched Armstrong, scoring 21 for TSU, and Yahuza Rasas collected 17 points and 11 rebounds.
Kelton Edwards equaled Jackson’s scoring total of 22 points for Grambling (13-13, 7-6). Ivey Smith Jr. added 16 points with nine assists and Prince Moss scored 11.
In the first half Jackson made good on 8 of 9 shots.
“I knew our guys were mad about him getting 20 points, so our bigs locked him up,” Armstrong said.
Over the first 20 minutes, Jackson presented some problems for TSU, but he wasn’t enough as TSU led 38-34 at the break.
The final points of the first half came on Armstrong’s 30-footer as the clock expired.
“It was a deep one,” said Armstrong, who had 12 first-half points. “I shot it and it just went in.”
TSU couldn’t shake off Grambling in the first half.
Grambling took an early 6-2 lead, but TSU responded and actually led for 13:13 of the first half. TSU’s largest lead was 26-21 following a 3-pointer by Bryson Etienne.
But Grambling wouldn’t go away. Thanks mainly to Jackson, who was 8-of-9 from the field and 4-of-5 on 3-pointers in the first half. Jackson’s 3-pointer with 4:38 remaining in the half tied the game at 26.
Another late 3-pointer by Jackson got GSU within 30-29 with 1:15 left. Jackson’s 3-pointer with 56 seconds left in the half got his team to within 33-32.
“I was really frustrated at halftime,” Jones said. “(Defending Jackson) was certainly a focal point of what we were supposed to be doing. We did do a much better job on him in the second half.”
Over the final 20 minutes, Jackson was just 1-of-9 from the field.
Earlier this season at Grambling, TSU prevailed 68-61, the third victory in a season-best sixgame winning streak.
The second half belonged to TSU.
Grambling got to within 45-43 on a basket by Smith at the 17:27 mark. But TSU gradually built up the lead to as many as 11 — 58-47 — with 12:21 remaining in the game on a free throw by Yahuza Rasas.
From there, TSU completely took over, mainly on outside jumpers from Armstrong and Hopkins. TSU eventually led by as many as 16 with 1:11 remaining.