Arkansas-Pine Bluff qualifies for SWAC men's basketball final with 71-65 win over Southern

Story and Photos by Kristina McKay and Tommy Boatman

Copyright 2018 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (March 9, 2018) Behind Player of the Year Martaveous McKnight, Arkansas-Pine Bluff eased past Southern 71-65, punching its ticket to the 2018 Toyota Southwestern Athletic Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament final.

A nip-and-tuck contest initially, Arkansas-Pine Bluff (14-19) managed to distance itself thanks to McKnight, who scored nine points in the first 13 minutes and knocked down a three-pointer to push the Golden Lions ahead 19-11 with 7:18 left in the half. 

Southern responded with a 11-2 run to take a 22-21 lead with four minutes left in the half, and Eddie Reese later keyed an 8-0 run – coupled with an UAPB scoring drought that lasted more than three minutes – to take a 30-23 advantage in the waning seconds of the half. However, Charles Jackson drew a foul on a three-point try with 0.7 seconds left, later converting all three from the stripe to cut Southern’s lead to 30-27 at the break. 

Jared Sam asserted himself following intermission, as he accounted for five early points as the Jaguars pushed their lead to seven. After that, however, the Jaguars struggled to find the bottom of the net, slogging through a 3:03 drought without a field goal. Meanwhile, the Golden Lions responded through their big man Trent Steen, as he nailed consecutive jumpers to bring UAPB within one.

Travon Harper later split a pair of free throws to tie the game at 38 with 14:47 left. Seconds later, a McKnight bucket pushed the Golden Lions ahead 40-39, but Chris Thomas dropped in a floater to put Southern back in front.

Arkansas-Pine Bluff remained in striking distance throughout the second half, and Harper later scored on a put-back of a McKnight miss to tie it at 55 with 5:42 left, and McKnight later swiped an errant pass, going coast-to-coast for a lay-up that gave UAPB a 57-55 lead with just under five minutes left.

From there, McKnight assumed the role of closer, scoring UAPB’s last nine points as the Golden Lions pulled away from the Jaguars late. McKnight scored a game-high 28 points on 10-of-15 shooting, grabbing eight rebounds. Harper added 23 points. Reese led the Jaguars (15-18) with 17 points, four assists and four rebounds. Sam added 13 points, and Emanuel Sheperd scored 11 points

TSU downs Southern 78-66 in men's hoops action

Photo by Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2018 All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2018 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (January 1, 2018) The Texas Southern Tigers downed the Southern Tigers by the score of 78-66 at H&PE Arena on New Year's Day. Derrick Bruce tallied 28 points for TSU while Demontrae Jefferson added 25. Trayvon Reed pulled down 11 rebounds in the effort. The Tigers moved to 1-13 for the season and 1-0 SWAC. The win game TSU head coach his 100th victory Fans can view the official game stats here.

Next up for the Tigers is a January 3 game against Alcorn State. 

Texas Southern Lady Tigers fall to Southern 67-57

Joyce Kennerson (3) led the
scoring for TSU.
Photo by Darla S Tamulitis
La Vita Loca Photography
Copyright 2018 All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2018 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (January 1, 2018) The Texas Southern Lady Tigers jumped out to a 35-29 lead at halftime, but it was not enough to overcome the second half surge of the Southern Jaguars, as they dropped a 67-57 decision at H&PE Arena in Houston. The loss drops the Lady Tigers to 5-7 for the season and 0-1 in conference play.

The Lady Tigers shot 44% (11-of-25) in the first half, but made only 8-of-31 shots from the field in the second half.

Junior starting guard Joyce Kennerson led all scorers with 21 points while Isis Lane came off the bench to chip in 10. Kennerson, who played her prep ball for Memorial High School in Port Arthur, Texas, was also 8-of-9 from the free throw line. Starting guard Camille Mills pulled down eight rebounds while Kaitlyn Palmer recorded three assists.

Texas Southern took the lead at the 5:39 mark in the first quarter and held it until late in the third quarter. With 1:56 left in the quarter Southern's Tiamya Butler stole the ball and score two points on a layup. That game the Jaguars a 44-43 lead of which they never relinquished. The Lady Tigers were held to 14 points the remainder of the game, while Southern when on a 23-point scoring drive. Briana Green scored 20 points for Southern along with seven rebounds.

Next up for the Lady Tigers is a Wednesday, January 3 match up against Alcorn State with a 5:30 p.m. CT tip off at H&PE Arena.

Texas Southern Tigers drop hard fought game to Southern Jaguars, 33-7

Photo by Houston Sports Images

Kristina McKay and Tommy Boatman

Copyright 2017 All Rights Reserved 
Used with permission.

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2017 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (November 11, 2017) The Texas Southern Tigers, despite putting up a valiant effort, could not contain the offensive strength of the Southern Jaguars; dropping a 33-7 decision in SWAC football action. The 6,000-plus fans at Houston's BBVA Compass Stadium witnessed the Jaguars push their season record to 7-3 (5-1 in conference action), while the Tigers fell to 1-8 (1-4 in conference). Southern holds on to a solid second place standing in the Western Division of the SWAC; behind No. 11 Grambling State. 

It took almost the entire first quarter before either team found the end zone. The Jaguars did it first, on a Herb Edwards 71-yard run with 56 seconds left in the quarter. The score capped a three-play, 90-yard drive that lasted only 57 seconds. They added two Cesar Barajas field goals; both late in the second quarter, of 30 and 18 yards to close out the first half with Southern leading 13-0.

Photo by Houston Sports Images

Kristina McKay and Tommy Boatman

Copyright 2017 All Rights Reserved 
Used with permission.

Southern came right out in the second half and picked up where they left off; scoring another touchdown after 3:29 of play. Quarterback Austin Howard found tight end Dennis Craig open, and hit him with a 10-yard pass for the score. It took the Jaguars 10 plays to  over the 75 yards to the end zone. They added an insurance touchdown when Demerio Houston returned a Donald Halsltead  TSU punt 74 yards for the score with two minutes left in the third quarter.

The Texas Southern Tigers scored 40 seconds into the fourth quarter to avert a shutout, when Elijah Odom rushed the final 11 yards of their 67-yard drive for their only touchdown of the game. Southern responded with another touchdown when freshman red shirt wide receiver Christopher Chaney, who was not listed on the depth chart, scored from two yards out.  Odem rushed for 118 yards on 23 carries and completed three passes for 50 yards.

Next up for Texas Southern is a Saturday, November 18 road trip to play Arkansas-Pine Bluff. 

Texas Southern falls to Southern on Homecoming Weekend

Photo by Kristina Lee Anne Gager, Used with permission

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2015 TexSport Publication

HOUSTON, TEXAS (October 24, 2015) Texas Southern tied the score at 21 with 1:18 remaining in the first half, but Southern University scored 19 unanswered points in the second half to down the Tigers by the score of 40-21 at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston on Saturday, October 24, 2015. With the loss, Texas Southern falls to 3-4 for the season and 2-4 in SWAC play. The Jaguars raised their record to 4-3 and 4-1 in conference play.

TSU and Southern traded touchdowns in the first quarter, tying the score at seven. The Jaguars scored also two additional touchdowns in the first quarter prior to TSU adding one to their total. At the end of the first quarter, Southern was leading 21-14. TSU tied the score at 21 points with 1:08 left in the half. Both teams took the tie to the locker room at halftime. Coming out in the second half, Southern scored four times; two touchdowns, one field goal, and a safety to put the game away. TSU was unable to score in the second half.

Photo by Kristina Lee Anne Gager
Used with permission

TSU scored two of their touchdowns off the arm of quarterback Averion Hurts. He completed six-of-eleven passes for 102 yards, including passes of 54 and 18 yards for the scores. His first TD pass was the 57-yarder to Larry Clark at the 1:08 mark in the first quarter. His second scoring pass was 3:13 into the second quarter in the form of the 18-yard pass to Milik Cross. The Tigers’ other score was a two-yard run by Brad Woodard with 12:32 left in the first quarter.

Offensively, TSU had trouble matching the Jaguar punch; tallying a mire 92 yards of total offense against the 377 yards of Southern. Defensively, Zacch Bamijoko accounted for eight tackles, with two of them solos.

TSU will take on College of Faith at 1 p.m. on Halloween (October 31) at BBVA Stadium. Southern will play Alcorn State at A.W. Mumford Stadium in Baton Rouge with a 4 p.m. kickoff.

Texas Southern falls to Southern Jaguars, 31-24 at BBVA Compass Stadium

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2014 TexSport Publications

HOUSTON, TEXAS (November 3, 2013) The Texas Southern Tigers dropped their seventh game of the 2013 season by the score of 31-24 to the Southern Jaguars at Houston’s BBVA Compass Stadium on Friday evening, Nov. 1, 2013.

The 6,406 fans who were in attendance at the game saw relief from the rain that had pummeled the Gulf Coast area in recent days as the Tigers mounted a fourth quarter comeback that fell short.

TSU scored two touchdowns in the final 15 minutes but were unable to completely erase the 11 point lead the Jaguars tad going into the final quarter.

The Tigers got on the board first with a 22-yard field goal by Eric Medina to close out the first quarter scoring at 3-0.

Southern responded with three straight touchdowns in the second quarter; which included a 10-yard interception by Anthony Balancier that was returned for a touchdown.

TSU rounded out the scoring in the second half when Homer Causey scampered 43 yards on a quarterback keeper for the score.

Both teams headed for the locker room at half time with the scoreboard reading 21-10 in favor of the Jaguars.

The Jaguars added 10 points in the fourth quarter to insure their fifth victory of the season.

Causey completed 13 of 21 passes for 154 yards and one touchdown.

He also carried the ball 14 times for 128 yards, to lead the Tigers.

Texas Southern will play Mississippi Valley State on Nov. 19 in Itta Bena, MS before returning home on Nov. 16 for their final game of the season against Howard University.

Houston Cougars down Southern Jaguars, 62-13 in season opener for both teams

Daniel Spencer scored three touchdowns for the  Houston 
Cougars against Southern University.
Photo by Darla Tamulitis-La Vita Loca Photography
Copyright 2013 All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2013 TexSport Publications

HOUSTON, TEXAS (September 2, 2013) With the offense passing for 255 yards and the rushing attack accounting for 372 yards, the Houston Cougars got off to a good start in the 2013 season by downing Southern University by the score of 62-13 at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas on Friday evening, August 30, 2013.

The Cougars utilized a balanced attacked; employing the talents of third-year quarterback David Piland and true-freshman quarterback John O’Korn.

Piland and O’Korn combined for a total of 255 yards passing, with four aerial touchdowns.

Piland, the 6-3, 196 pound starting quarterback from Southlake, Texas, completed 15 of 23 passes form 148 yards and one touchdown.

He played the entire first half, except for one four-play series; when O’Korn was sent in to lead the offense.

Houston head coach Tony Levine addressed his decision concerning the quarterback platooning in the post-game press conference.

“That was out plan heading in, that John (O’Korn) would get the fourth series and then we were going to start the second half with David Piland and then O’Korn would play the rest of the second half.”

O’Korn completed 11-of-15 passes for 107 yards and three touchdowns.

On the ground, the Cougars tallied 372 yards with the duo of Ryan Jackson and Kenneth Farrow accounting for a combined 221 yards and two touchdowns.

Jackson carried the ball 10 times for 120 yards and two touchdowns.

When questioned by the media in the post-game press conference concerning the attitude of the offense during the game, Jackson commented:

“It’s all about execution and tonight we did that as a team. Part of the game and part of being a playmaker is playing with that attitude. I like that. We came out there tonight with that attitude to execute on offense.”

Richie Leone has added place kicking duties to his job
description for 2013.
Photo by Darla Tamulitis-La Vita Loca Photography
Copyright 2013, All Rights Reserved

Farrow contributed 101 yards on 20 carries.

In the air, Daniel Spencer caught nine passes for 102 yards and two touchdowns.

Kicker Richie Leone scored 11 points; going 5-for-5 on PATs and converting two field goals of 30 and 38 yards.

As a result, he was honored as the American Athletic Conference Special Team Player of the Week.

The Cougars will next face Temple University in Philadelphia, PA on Saturday, September 7, 2013 with a 12 noon EDT kickoff.

UC-Irvine Beats Southern 5-1 in College Baseball Action

By Robert H Kelly Copyright 2012 TexSport Publications

HOUSTON, TEXAS (February 18, 2012) The University of California Irvine upped its season record to 2-0 with a 5-1 drumming of Southern University in a Saturday game at the 2012 Urban Invitational at Houston’s Minute Maid Park.

The Anteaters capitalized on three fielding errors by the Jaguars to score two runs in both the 4^th and 6^th innings and a single run in the 8^th.

Irvine third baseman Tommy Reyes led the Anteaters with one runs on two hits, two RBI and two walks.

Left fielder Kris Paulino went 1-for-2, scoring two runs with second baseman Dillon Moyer also scoring a run.

The Jaguars managed only three hits in the match to go with the single run.

Kyle Hooper, pitching four innings in relief, gave up a single hit, no runs while walking two. He was credited with the win.

On the other hand, starter Jose De Leon pitched 3.2 innings, gave up two runs on five hits.

Daniel Garcia and Santos Saldivar pitched in a combined 5.1 innings of relief allowing three runs on four hits and walked three.

Fielding was definitely a problem for the 1-1 Jaguars with third baseman Cameron McGriff, catcher Clint Ourso, and pitcher Daniel Garcia all committing errors.

UC-Irvine will next face Texas Southern on Sunday with a revised start time of 10:00am.

Southern will play Alabama State immediately after the Irvine-Southern game.

All games on Sunday have been reassigned to Minute Maid Park due to the inclement weather in the Houston area.