JACKSON, MISS - Trailing by nine with 5:46 to go in the game, Jackson State (4-12, 2-3 SWAC) strung together a long series of defensive stops and got two late free throws from
Malachi Wideman and
Chance Moore to help grind out a 61-58 victory over Texas Southern (5-10, 3-3 SWAC) on Monday evening inside the Lee E. Williams Athletic and Assembly Center on Marting Luther King Day.
Terence Lewis II was terrific for JSU once again leading all scorers with 19 points and also grabbing 7 rebounds.
Jayveous McKinnis got back into his groove notching his eighth double-double on the season with 12 points and 12 rebounds which is also the 31st of his career.
Chance Moore chipped in nine points.
Malachi Wideman and
Ken Evans Jr. added seven points a piece.
"I'm proud of our guys," head coach
Wayne Brent said. "I thought our guys fought hard and found a way to win despite trailing for the majority of the game."
The game was close to being knotted up at halftime just like Saturday's contest, but two late three-pointers by Texas Southern gave them a a 30-25 halftime edge.
JSU was able to get on the board first in the second half with a floater from Lewis II in the paint, but that did not deter TXSO. They answered and continued to put up points, going on a 9-2 run to go up 48-39 which was their largest lead of the game with 6:48 left to play.
Jonas James III and Wideman countered with two threes to bring JSU within six, 51-45. Jackson State picked up their intensity on the defensive end making three consecutive stops and converting on the offensive end going on a 10-0 run to take the lead with 4:03 left to play in the second half, 52-51.
With four minutes left to play there were three lead changes. The defense for JSU found another gear as they limited the opposition to just one made field goal and forced four turnovers late in the game. Texas Southern regained the lead after a jumper from Bryson Etienne and two free throws from PJ Henry, 55-52. JSU answered with another bucket in the paint from Lewis II and a sweet euro step layup from Moore to regain the lead, 56-55. The two biggest stops came in the final seconds, Wideman forced a turnover on a potential game-winning drive to the basket and having a half-court desperation shot fall short that could have sent it into overtime shortly after an amazing statement dunk from Wideman.
Jackson State outscored Texas Southern 22-10 in the last six minutes of the game to secure the 61-58 victory which completed the weekend home conference sweep.
NOTABLES
- Jackson State was 25-63 (40 percent) shooting from the field and (7-21) from the charity stripe
- Texas Southern shot 38 percent (21-55) from the field and 67 percent (8-12) from the free-throw line
- JSU registered 35 rebounds, including 20 on the defensive glass and 15 on the offensive glass
- TXSO pulled down 30 rebounds, with 24 coming on the defensive end and six on the offensive end
- Jackson State finished with 36 points in the paint, 20 bench points, nine fast-break points, and 16 second-chance points
- Texas Southern registered 31 bench points, 20 points in the paint, and eight second-chance points
NEXT UP
Jackson State heads back out on the road next weekend to face Bethune-Cookman Saturday, January 22 in Daytona Beach, Florida. Tip-off is set for 4:00 p.m. CT inside the Moore Gymnasium.
SINGLE GAME TICKETS
Single game tickets for home games are now on sale to the public for the 2021-22 men's and women's basketball season. Tickets can be purchased online at
Ticketmaster or at the JSU Ticket Office at Lee E. Williams Athletic and Assembly Center.
SOCIAL MEDIA
For all of the latest Jackson State Men's Basketball news, fans can follow the Twitter account (GoJSUTigersMBB), Instagram account (@gojsutigersmbb) and Facebook account (Jackson State Men's Basketball).
#AggressiveUnit x #TrustTheeProcess x #BleedTheeBlue
