Jaylen Wysinger and Zytarious Mortle combined for 53 points as TSU rallied from 18 points down in the second half for a 74-73 win over Southern Monday night.
Southern started the game off red hot as they built an 11-point lead (26-15) at the 9:06 mark. The Jaguars were 9-of-15 from the field and forced four turnovers as six players would score to set the tone. TSU would respond with a 7-2 run over the next 3:32 to get within 28-22 with 4:33 left but the Jaguars found ways to get to the free throw line over the final 4:26 of the half as it sparked a 13-5 surge and a 41-27 halftime lead.
A 7-3 run to begin the second half saw SU up its lead to 48-30 and nearly take the crowd out the game on a Monday night. Jordan Gorecki would answer with a dunk and Jaylen Wysinger followed with a layup as the tide would turn over the next 7:30 as TSU turned it up on both ends with a 20-1 run that saw them take a 50-49 lead with 9:50 remaining.
With the focus now on executing the original gameplan, both teams went back-and-forth from that point as SU answered the run with a trey to lead 52-50 but Mortle responded with a jumper to knot it at 52-all. From there, it was back-and-forth, nip-and-tuck the rest of the way with eight lead changes.
At the 3:50 mark, Wysinger drove the court for a layup and a missed free throw by SU led to a Mortle jumper and a 67-65 lead. SU's Fazl Oshodi, who hit the game-winning three-pointer last Monday versus Alabama State, had two looks at the basket on the ensuing possession but missed both three-pointers. Gorecki came up with a big rebound and Mortle's jumper pushed TSU ahead 69-65 with 2:04 left. SU would get an offensive rebound on its next possession and didn't waste the opportunity as AJ Barnes hit a trey for a 69-68 TSU lead. TSU missed a three-pointer and Barnes again was the thorn in TSU's side with another trey as they now led 71-69 with 1:21 left. Mortle was fouled but hit only 1-of-2 free throws and SU's Demariee Jones slipped past a defender for an easy layup and a 73-70 lead.
With 23.9 seconds left, Wysinger attempted to cut the lead to one point and SU was whistled for a goaltending to cut the deficit to 73-72. TSU tried to get a quick turnover on the inbounds but SU got the ball into its leading scorer in Michael Jacobs and he was fouled to stop the clock. Shooting a one-and-one, Jacobs missed the attempt and TSU rebounded the ball and took a timeout with 11.7 seconds left for the potential game-winner.
With 2.8 seconds, Wysinger was fouled on the shot attempt and hit both free throws to move TSU ahead 74-73. SU had no timeouts but turned the ball over on the ensuing possession and never had a chance to attempt the win.
Wysinger led TSU with 28 points and had seven rebounds, four assists and three steals. Mortle finished with 25 and had a double-double with 11 rebounds.
With postseason play looming, the SWAC schedule shifts to Thursday and Saturday from this point as TSU heads to Pine Bluff, Arjl. For a contest at UAPB on Thursday, Feb. 19.
