Texas Southern has three players score 20 or more points in win over Jackson State

Posted: February 10, 2018 -- 11:05 pm CST.

HOUSTON, TX (H&PE Arena) -- Texas Southern University returned to the winner's circle Saturday night with a solid 86-75 victory over the Jackson State Tigers. After missing the last five games due to a suspension, TSU's Demontrae Jefferson returned to the team and the starting line-up. Jefferson scored 25 points and dished out 6 assists. Jefferson played under control and efficiently the entire game. Jefferson did not commit one turnover in the ball game.

Final stats: Texas Southern 86, Jackson State 75

Donte' Clark scored a game-high 26 points to lead Texas Southern's three 20 plus points scorers. Big man Trayvon Reed added 21 points. Clark added 5 assists and 9 rebounds. Clark shot 9 for 17 from the floor. His biggest negative was missing 7 of his 13 foul shots. Reed pulled down 7 rebounds and blocked three shots.

Texas Southern (7-17 overall, 7-4 in the SWAC) took care of the ball superbly. TSU only committed 5 turnovers in the game. Jackson State committed 10 turnovers.

TSU enjoyed a big advantage at the foul line. TSU attempted 40 free throws (made 25) while JSU attempted 23 foul shots (made 17).

Texas Southern scored the last six points in the first half and took a 40-34 lead at halftime.

Jackson State (10-15, 7-5) pulled within three points (55-52) after Julian Daughtry sank two free throws at the 12:04 mark of the second half. However, Reed knock down two free throws and threw down a slam dunk to begin a 12-2 TSU run for a 67-54 lead with 9:54 remaining in the ball game.

JSU got within 8 points twice; but, each time, TSU responded. The first time, Reed sank two free throws. The second time Donte Clark split two free throws; however, Reed got another dunk for a 72-61 TSU lead. Clark followed with a lay-up for a 74-61 lead.

Leading 76-65 with 3:09 on the clock, Derrick (D.J.) Bruce, Reed (another dunk) and Clark each scored two points during a 6-0 spurt to stretch Texas Southern's margin to 17 points (82-65) with 3:12 remaining in the game.

"I thought we did a good job of executing on both ends of the floor in the second half," said TSU head coach Mike Davis. "Our goal moving forward is to be the best basketball team that we can be when the SWAC Tournament starts next month."

Texas Southern lead 86-69 with 69 seconds left in the ball game. Jackson State scored the final six points to make the final margin 11 points.

Texas Southern hosts Grambling State Monday, February 12, at 8 p.m. After losing the first three SWAC games this season, the G-Men have won 9 straight conference games.