Texas Southern had a successful senior day and earned some much-needed momentum in the SWAC standings as they defeated Jackson State 82-57 Saturday afternoon.
Prior to the game, TSU honored four seniors in Alex Anderson, Bryce Roberts, Troy Hupstead and the lone four-year leterwinner in Zytarious Morlte.
TSU led for six-and-a-half-minutes to open the game but Jackson State used an 8-2 run to storm ahead 13-12 at the 13:17 mark. Alex Anderson would help TSU regain the lead with back-to-back layups but JSU moved back ahead 19-16 on a three-pointer from Tamarion Hoover. The lead would change hands over the next several minutes with TSU reclaiming a 21-20 margin after a Zaire Hayes three-pointer. TSU would turn it up another notch entering halftime as five players would score over the final 6:44 during a 19-0 run to send them into the locker room ahead 37-30.
A 10-0 run to open the second half gave TSU a 47-30 lead and it appeared the Tigers were headed towards cruise control. However, Jackson State had enough fight to claw its way back with an 11-4 run sparked by three TSU turnovers and red-hot shooting from the field (4-of-5). TSU regrouped and went toe-to-toe with JSU over the next several minutes to keep them at bay as they never could get within single digits. The closest JSU would get was a 59-48 margin with 7:44 left but TSU finally kicked the door in with a 23-10 run to end the game as Hayes led the charge with nine points.
Hayes capped off his final senior day at TSU with 17 points. The senior class also celebrated its last Saturday afternoon contest inside the H&PE Arena with productive days as Jaylen Wysinger scored 16 followed by 15 from Roberts, 12 from Anderson and 10 by Duane Posey. Posey added nine rebounds and three blocks while Anthony Andrews grabbed eight rebounds.
With the win, TSU has clawed its way back towards the top of the SWAC standings and tied for second heading into the last weekend of the regular season. The margin for error is still slim due to the logjam from second to seventh as the standings will begin to become clearer after Tuesday's slate of games.
TSU is back in action for its home and regular season finale Thursday night against Prairie View A&M at 7 p.m. inside the H&PE Arena.
