TSU Tigers take sole possession of first place with key win over ASU

MONTGOMERY, Alabama  -- Texas Southern moved into sole possession of first place after a big 58-49 win over Alabama State on Saturday.

Defense was a key part in TSU's victory as ASU only shot 21 percent in the second half compared to 43 for TSU, but a big difference in the game was in three-point field goal efficiency.

The Hornets entered the game as the top three-point shooting team in the conference, averaging over six per game and shooting a league-leading 38 percent.

In tonight's action, ASU only made one of their 14 attempts, while the Tigers connected on six of their 19 attempts, outscoring ASU 18-3 in three point baskets.

TSU had three players reach double-digits led by Gibbs 16 points. Riley added 14 and Deverell Biggs added 10. TSU out rebounded the Hornets 37-30 during the contest.

With the loss, the Hornets fall one game behind the Tigers with three games left to play.

"I thought we had a good game plan," Head Coach Lewis Jackson said. "We wanted to attack them from the inside out and we were getting some really, really good play from Lewis around the basket. He was kind of having his way early in the first half and those things were working for us."

"We allowed those guys to penetrate too much and we gave up open shots. Those are the things that hurt us. I thought in the second half we rushed some shots early in our offense instead of doing what we were doing, playing inside out and keeping pressure on them. Overall I thought it was a good competitive game."

ASU forced the Tigers into 17 turnovers, which led to 19 points, but was out rebounded 37-30 by the Tigers.

"Defensively we held them to 50-something points we just could not make shots there in the second half," Jackson said. "We had a lot of open looks and could not get any of them to fall and it was a tough loss."

ASU was able to sneak into the locker room at halftime with a 33-31 lead. The difference in the first half was TSU's ability to knock down three of their 10 three point field goals while the Hornets missed all four of their attempts.

Lewis did have a big first half setting his career-high in the game's opening 20 minutes of action with 17 points on seven of nine field goals. He also hit three of his four free throw attempts. Waters had six points, but only played 13 minutes as he picked up two first-half fouls.

The Hornets will have a quick turnaround as they will host Prairie View A&M in their final home game of the season Monday at 7:30 p.m. The game can be heard and watched live on HornetVision at bamastatesports.com.

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COURTESY ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY AND TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION