TSU tops Prairie View in Triple Overtime, 87-83

Posted: January 12, 2014 -- 12:50pm CST.

HOUSTON, TX (H&PE Arena) -- Despite 17 missed free throws and a bizarre ending in the first overtime, the Texas Southern Tigers defeat their arch-rival, the Prairie View Panthers, 87-83, in triple overtime in front of a raucous (sometimes too raucous) crowd of 6,482 fans.

The Tigers improved to 6-9 overall and 2-1 in the Southwestern Athletic Conference with the thrilling but grueling victory.

The game was tied at 58 after 40 minutes; and, the Tigers led 69-62 with 12 seconds remaining in the first overtime.

NO ONE believed the game would go to another five minutes.

However, Prairie View's Montrael Scott splashed in a three-point shot to trim the Tigers' lead 69-65 with 10 seconds on the clock. Then, teammate Demondre Chapman picked up his fifth foul when he fouled Tigers' big man Aaric Murray.

On the fifth foul, the Tigers' fans, as is their new tradition, celebrated and shouted "Go Sit Down!" However, one fan wandered onto the court; and, the referees whistled the Tigers for a technical foul.

John Brisco made both foul shots to make the score 69-67 with 5.5 seconds on the clock.

Murray split his two foul shots for a 70-67 Tigers' lead. Brisco raced the ball up the court; pump-faked his defender off his feet and calmly nailed a three-point shot tying the game at 70 to send the game to the second overtime.

The Tigers led for much of the second overtime; but, Prairie View's Tre Hagood tied the game at 77 with 1:29 left and neither team scored in the final 89 seconds of the second five minute session.

Texas Southern scored the first five points of the third overtime and led by as much as seven points with 21 seconds remaining in the game.

Prairie View didn't have any more miraculous comebacks; and, the Tigers held on for the victory.

Four Panthers scored in double figures with Brisco leading the way 20 points.  Scott followed with 16 points while Tre Hagood and Louis Munks added 15 and 12 points, respectively.

The Tigers were led by senior D'Aris Scarver's game-high 26 points. Lawrence Johnson-Danner and Aaric Murray each scored 13 points while Madarious Gibbs added 12 points.

The Panthers next game is Saturday, January 18, at Jackson State while the Tigers hit the road and face Grambling.

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