BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Coltie Young and Ken Evans Jr. combined to score 38 points for Jackson State, but the Tigers fell to the Texas Southern Tigers 73-62 at Bartow Arena Thursday afternoon in the quarterfinal matchup of the 2024 Starry SWAC Men's Basketball Tournament presented by Buick.
Young had 22 points and six rebounds to lead the Tigers (15-17), who had two players score in double figures. Evans added 16 points, four assists, and two steals, and Zeke Cook added four points, nine rebounds, and three steals.
Jackson State did a great job crashing the offensive glass, pulling down 20 boards that led to 16 second-chance points, thanks in large part to Cook's six offensive rebounds.
The Tigers' defense was a problem in Thursday's game, forcing 14 Texas Southern turnovers, turning them into 19 points on the other end of the floor. Cook's three steals led the way individually for the Tigers.
Gallery: (3-14-2024) MBB vs. Texas Southern (SWAC Tournament)
How It Happened
Jackson State struggled out of the gate, falling behind 46-27 heading into halftime, mostly due to some hot shooting from Texas Southern, who shot 68% from the floor in the first half.
TSU kept widening its lead after intermission, constructing a 60-38 advantage before Jackson State went on a 7-0 run, finished off by Young's layup, to shrink the deficit to 60-45 with 8:32 to go in the contest. The Tigers kept their comeback going, but Texas Southern managed to hold on for the 73-62 win. Jackson State capitalized on eight Texas Southern turnovers in the period, collecting 14 points off those turnovers.
Game Notes
- The Tigers shared the ball well, recording an assist on 70 percent of made baskets.
- Coltie Young, Ken Evans, and Chase Adams combined to account for 76 percent of the Tigers points.
- The Jackson State defense forced 14 turnovers.
- Jackson State cleaned up on the offensive glass, collecting 20 offensive boards in the game.
- Coltie Young led the Tigers with 22 points.
- Jackson State got a game-high nine rebounds from Zeke Cook.
