Texas Southern scored 75 points off the bench as the unit willed TSU to an important 92-87 overtime win over Alcorn State on Thursday night inside the H&PE Arena.
Alcorn State opened the game red hot from the field as they were 9-of-14 from the field while TSU only made three shots with three turnovers as they trailed 22-10 at the 11:38 mark. Playing on a rare Thursday night in front of an anxious crowd, the Tigers overcame their slow start over the next four minutes with a 15-7 run as Josh Akpovwa keyed the change with five points.
Down 29-25 with 6:46 left, ASU's Nick Woodward answered with a bucket to up the margin back to six but Duane Posey's jumper kept TSU within four at 31-27. The Braves would increase their lead to 36-27 with five minutes left but Zytarious Morlte came alive over the final 4:45 with 10 points to spark a 14-5 run into the locker room and a 41-all halftime margin.
Once again, a slow start to the second half doomed TSU as ASU kicked the half off with a 17-4 run as Tycen McDaniels keyed the charge with 12 points. Down 58-45 at the 13:38 mark and down a player after a starter fouled out less than four minutes into the half, TSU saw its back against the wall but the light came on at the right time.
TSU forced four turnovers over the next 4:49 and freshman Anthony Andrews rose to the occasion with six points followed by strong inside play from Duane Posey as TSU erased its deficit following a 15-0 run to lead 61-60. Despite TSU's momentum and with multiple players in foul trouble, Alcorn State wouldn't go away as both teams were even in the scoring column over the next four minutes as TSU led 70-68 with 4:40 left.
The Braves used a three-point play to move ahead on its next possession and would maintain the lead all the way to the closing seconds. With 16 seconds left, Alcorn State's Jameel Morris drew a foul and hit 1-of-2 free throws for a 76-74 lead. ASU would take a timeout to set its defense up as everyone in the gym knew TSU would take a high percentage shot in the paint to tie the game with four ASU players having four fouls. TSU did just that as Morlte drove the paint and executed a nice spin move to score with five seconds left. ASU missed a desperation jumper as time expired which forced overtime.
TSU used the momentum from regulation to erupt early in overtime as they went on an 8-2 run for an early 84-78 lead. ASU refused to go away as they cut the deficit to 86-84 with 1:32 left but a big move in the paint from Andrews upped the margin back to 88-84. An Alex Anderson steal paved the way for a Morlte layup and an 90-84 lead with 59 seconds left but the Braves used a Shane Lancaster trey to get within 90-87 with 34 seconds left. TSU would turn the ball over with 19 seconds left but Lancaster couldn't capitalize on his three-point attempt with eight seconds left and Jaylen Wysinger sunk two free throws with six seconds left to seal the win.
Morlte once again had another strong night inside the H&PE Arena with 33 points, six rebounds, six assists and four steals in 40 minutes of action. Posey scored 16 with 15 rebounds while Anderson scored 14 with six rebounds and five assists. Andrews had a career-high four blocks and 12 points in 22 minutes of action off the bench.
TSU is back in action on Saturday for senior day at 4 p.m. inside the H&PE Arena.
