JSU lets 15-point lead slip away, takes hit in SWAC standings

The shot bounded off the side rim. Grant Maxey's head dipped. And Jackson State missed a monumental opportunity. Texas Southern overcame a 15-point second-half deficit to stun JSU 70-67 on Saturday night, clawing back into the game in the final moments to take control of the conference lead.

"To say the least, it was very disappointing," JSU coach Tevester Anderson said. "This game will hurt for a while because it was a big game."  Huge.

It was a battle between the conference's No. 1 and No. 2 teams, a clash involving the third- and fourth-ranked squads in Division I black college basketball - both scrapping for a leg up in the league in front of an announced 2,002 crowd at the Athletics and Assembly Center.

Men's Basketball: JSU 67, Texas Southern 70

By JSU Office of Athletic Media Relations

JACKSON, Miss. - Despite having three players score in double figures and owing a 16-point second half lead the Jackson State men's basketball team fell 70-67 to Texas Southern in a battle for the No. 1 spot in the Southwestern Athletic Conference standings Saturday night at the Lee E. Williams Athletics and Assembly Center.

With the loss JSU falls to 13-11 overall record and a 9-3 SWAC mark. Texas Southern improves to 12-10, 10-1 record.

Grant Maxey led JSU with 18 points in 21 minutes. Tyrone Hanson added 16 and Jenirro Bush scored 15. Travele Jones recorded a double-double as he scored a game high 22 points and pulled down 13 rebounds for Texas Southern. Lawrence Danner-Johnson scored 15, Keithtrick Denson added 14 and Kevin Galloway scored 10.

Bench scoring proved to be the difference in the game for TSU. Texas Southern got 22 bench points while JSU got 14 bench points.

JSU jumped out to an early lead and took a 37-28 advantage into halftime. In the second half, JSU led by as many as 16, 53-37, with 13:06 left to play. Texas Southern then outscored Jackson State 23-8 to pull within 61-60 on Kevin Galloway's free throws with 2:28 remaining.

Jackson State returns to action Monday, Feb. 14 when the Tigers host Prairie View A&M on ESPNU. Tip-off is set for 8:00 pm.

Final Stats

Women Basketball: JSU 56, Texas Southern 49

JACKSON, Miss. - Three Lady Tigers scored in double figures to help the Jackson State women's basketball beat Texas Southern 56-49 Saturday at the Lee E. Williams Athletics and Assembly Center. JSU swept the regular season series against Texas Southern.

With the win JSU improves to a 6-15 overall record and a 5-7 Southwestern Athletic Conference mark. Texas Southern falls to a 4-18, 2-9 record. Jackson State is ranked seventh in the SWAC standings.

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Videographer: UrbanSportsITG