Custom Search BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - One day after a nail biter against Jackson State, the Texas Southern men's basketball team did the opposite and secured its ninth SWAC Title and NCAA Tournament berth in style as they took down top-seeded Prairie Vew A&M 80-61 Saturday evening in the SWAC Championship game.
After facing PVAMU twice this season and coming up short, one would figure it would be a back-and-forth affair early on between the rivals separated roughly 45 miles from each other. There were seven lead changes and six ties early but the Tigers broke things open late in the first half. Jordan Gilliam snapped a 22-22 tie with a jumper at the 5:08 mark, kicking off a 14-6 closing run into halftime. The icing on the cake came with no time remaining in the first half as Justin Hopkins was fouled and hit three free throws for a 36-28 halftime lead.
"Gratifying the way we had to do it," said head coach Johnny Jones. "Through the pandemic, weather problems including the last two regular season games we had to play (at the Campbell Center). These guys stayed together, stayed focused, they never wavered."
Texas Southern wasted no time in letting its fans know that yesterday's heart racer wouldn't happen as Gilliam opened the half with a trey and sparked a 9-0 run to up its lead to 45-36. The Tigers would continue their dominance on both ends as the lead grew to as much as 21 after a Karl Nicholas dunk. The Tigers closed the door on the Panthers from that point and solidified its ninth SWAC Tournament Championship in style after an emotional three-day tournament.
Five players scored in double figures led by Nicholas' double-double of 16 points and 12 rebounds. Jordan Gilliam and Justin Hopkins each scored 15 points for the third-seeded Tigers (16-8), Michael Weathers added 13 and John Walker III 10. Texas Southern shot 51 percent overall (29 of 57), adding 19-of-27 at the free-throw line.
"It feels amazing, we had one job, one mission and we got it done. Amazing," said SWAC Tournament MVP Michael Weathers.
In addition to SWAC Tournament MVP honors, Weathers was named to the all-tournament team along with Nicholas.
~TSU Sports Information