Tigers remain undefeated in SWAC play with 77-67 win at Southern

BATON ROUGE, La. – The Tigers of Texas Southern University remained undefeated in Southwestern Athletic Conference play Monday after winning 77-67 at Southern.
 
Jeremy Combs scored 17 points and pulled in eight rebounds to lead four Tigers scoring in double-figures. Combs was 7-of-11 from the floor and pulled six of his rebounds off the offensive glass; he also blocked four Southern shots during the game.
 
Jalyn Patterson and Justin Hopkins scored 13 points apiece for TSU (7-8, 2-0 SWAC). John Jones chipped in 12 points for the Tigers.
 
Eddie Reese scored 17 points to lead the Jaguars (1-14), who fell to 0-2 in conference play.
 
The Tigers trailed by as many as 11 points with 6:38 left to play in the first half, but responded with nine unanswered points over the next minute and a half to cut Southern's lead 22-20.
 
TSU set up their first double-digit lead in the second half with 10 unanswered points between the 12:19 and 7:50 marks of the second half. Combs scored six of his points during that run.
 
Texas Southern shot 45 percent (26 of 58) from the field during the game; the Tigers made 33 percent (8 of 24) of their 3-point attempts.
 
Devocio Butler scored nine points for Texas Southern. Shawn Olden II and Eden Ewing came off the bench to score seven points and six points, respectively.
 
Southern edged Texas Southern 16-13 in offensive rebounds, but the Tigers outscored 19-10 in second-chance points.
 
The win was TSU's third consecutive triumph, dating back to the Dec. 29 victory at Southeastern Conference opponent Texas A&M. It was also Texas Southern's 11th win over Southern in the last 13 matchups between the two teams.
 
The Tigers return to action Saturday when they visit in-state rival Prairie View A&M. Tipoff is scheduled for 5 p.m., or approximately 20 minutes following the conclusion of the women's game between the two teams.