Free throws, turnovers and missed opportunities add up in Tigers loss
In overtime, Center Paul Crosby used his size and strength to convert a layup while drawing a foul as he delivered the pivotal points that eventually ended Texas Southern University’s home winning streak of 14 games by dropping a 77-69 decision to Mississippi Valley States Delta Devils Monday night at H&PE Arena.
The win kept Delta Devils record spotless in conference play (8-11, 7-0 Southwestern Athletic Conference)
Mississippi Valley State took control of a tight game with just over ten minutes left in the first half. A pair of steals coupled with consecutive treys propelled the Devils. It all started when guard Terrance Joyner, who led four starters in double figures with 18 points, stroked back-to-back 3-pointers. Joyner first spotted up uncovered from the right baseline to pull the Devil’s within two, 21-19. Then followed with a steal and within seconds, from the same spot, put Mississippi up 22-21 with 10:09 left. The Delta Devil’s made the lead stand up until halftime, where it led 37-33.
Brent Arrington score 17-points, Paul Crosby tallied 15 and 12 rebounds and William Pugh finished with 12 for Mississippi Valley.
Mississippi Valley State’s man-to-man defense began to where down the Tigers around the nine minute mark. Turnovers and free throws began to be the Tigers worst enemy. Texas Southern finished 16-of-24 from the charity stripe with 13 turnovers while the Delta Devils finished 22-of-27.
Texas Southern, up 19-16 moments earlier, But an 11-point swing turned in by Mississippi Valley watched the Tigers trail, 31-23 with 4:40 left in the first half.
Much of the evening, the Tigers (6-13, 5-2) countered with a zone defense and occasionally trapped out of it. Which, worked well while defending the athletic Devils.
Early on the seesaw battle watched TSU lead for most of the first half. Neither team could build a lead bigger than three points.
After a blown layup and a traveling violation charged to Daniel King, the Devils increased its lead, 41-33 when Amos Studivant and Joyner scored consecutive baskets to open the second half.
Slowly the Tigers chipped away at the deficit until tying the score at 51 with 5:41 left. However, all of sudden Mississippi Valley received the spark it needed from backup guard William Pugh who shinned scoring the Delta Devils next eight points to hold a 60-55 lead. The Devils converted several Texas Southern misses into points.
Later, the Tiger’s shook off the cold spell and battled back from seven-points down to close the gap, 63-61 with less than a minute to play, setting up the play of the game. Freshman Madarious Gibbs took control of a defensive board and raced the length of the floor to score a layup, beating the buzzer to send the game into overtime.
Then the man of the hour, Joyner wasted no time, drilling a trey from the right-wing to give the Delta Devils a lead they would never surrender (66-63).
Exerting so much energy to send the game to overtime took a toll on the Tigers, as Mississippi had its way the remainder of the game.
It’s very disappointing, said an upset Texas Southern Coach, Tony Harvey, who also said the loss will serve as a great teaching point.
For Texas Southern, Omar Strong led with 16 points, Madarious Gibbs had 14, Lawr Johnson-Danner ended his night with 13 and Fred Sturdivant finished with 10.