Brison Gresham connected on two free throws with nine seconds left coupled with a defensive stop in the closing seconds as TSU erased an eight-point deficit with 2:12 left for a big 78-77 win over Prairie View A&M Saturday night.
TSU celebrated senior night festivities in style early as they stormed out to a 16-5 lead within the first 6:32 as five players would score. In true rivalry fashion, Prairie View A&M stormed back with an 18-8 run as they went 6-of-7 from the field over the next 4:55 as they trailed 24-23 with 8:09 left. Even though TSU only missed one shot during that span, turnovers didn't help as they committed three.
Both teams were even over the next 3:20 as Bryson Etienne scored six of the next eight points which gave TSU a 32-31 lead. His play sparked the Tigers on both ends of the court as they outscored PVAMU 11-4 led by A.J. Lawson's seven points en route to a 43-35 halftime lead.
Karl Nicholas' layup opened the second half in style as TSU led 45-35. However, the shots stopped falling combined with two turnovers for TSU as they went 1-of-6 over the next 4:17 as Markedric Bell led PVAMU to a 50-45 deficit following a trey from Juwaun Daniels. Nicholas' layup moved TSU back up 52-45 but the free throw line would be a factor over the next four minutes as they combined for eight free throws as TSU led 60-51 with 10:11 left.
Prairie View A&M never led until the 5:34 mark as they sucked the life out of the near-capacity crowd inside the H&PE Arena with a 22-4 run which spanned over six minutes. TSU would only hit one field goal while PVAMU took advantage of the charity stripe with eight free throws coupled with six field goals to gain a 73-64 lead with 3:20 left.
Sensing a bitter ending, TSU would turn the electricity up in the building as they closed out the game on a 14-4 run. With PVAMU up 76-68 with 2:12 left, Brison Gresham's tip-in narrowed the gap to 76-70. He also grabbed a big defensive rebound on the ensuing possession and hit 1-of-2 free throws to draw TSU to within 76-71 with 1:30 left.
Lawson was fouled with 53 seconds left and hit his second attempt. On the next play, Nicholas deflected the pass which landed into the hands of Bryson Etienne. Etienne found Nicholas for a big dunk and a 76-74 margin with 40 seconds left. PVAMU would lose the ball on the next possession with 36 ticks left and Lawson drew a foul with 27 seconds. Lawson hit both free throws and it appeared TSU would move ahead with a huge steal. Instead, TSU was whistled for a foul and PVAMU's Dwayne Cox hit 1-of-2 free throws for a 77-76 lead with 20 seconds left.
Gresham was fouled with 9.3 seconds left and hit two huge free throws to move the Tigers ahead 77-76. Gambrell lost the basketball on PVAMU's final possession as Lawson picked up the steal to run the clock out.
Lawson led TSU with 16 points and a game-high five steals while Gresham had 14 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks. Nicholas scored 11 with seven boards followed by 10 from John Jones.
TSU is back in action on Wednesday at 2 p.m. against Jackson State in the first round of the SWAC Tournament in Birmingham, Ala.
