McClain's Second-Half Burst Fuels Solid 2nd Half As Tigers Win 79-63 Over Prairie View A&M

Texas Southern won its seventh straight contest as Kavion McClain led a 27-9 second half run en route to a 79-63 win over Prairie View A&M on Saturday inside the H&PE Arena.
 
Prairie View A&M would lead 7-6 to begin the game but Kenny Hunter's basket off a Josh Farmer rebound quickly gave the Tigers an 8-7 lead. From there, both teams would go back-and-forth with the Tigers finding ways to stay in front despite some early shooting success by the Panthers.
 
Tied at 17-all with 8:30 left, TSU would attempt to create some separation over the next 5:48 as four Tigers would score during that span en route to a 27-21 margin with three minutes remaining. On the flip side, PVAMU used the three-ball to its advantage as Braelon Bush scored all seven of its points. But in typical PVAMU-TSU fashion, the Panthers fought back towards the close of the half as they held TSU without a field goal attempt over the final 1:59 as Tanahj Pettway's buzzer beater layup closed the gap to 28-27 at the half.
 
After a spirited halftime ceremony which saw the TSU soccer team honored for its regular season championship along with the Ocean of Soul Marching Band's performance, the Tigers managed to keep the energy generated on the court to open the second half.
 
A Farmer dunk at the 19:26 mark gave TSU a 32-27 lead but PVAMU eventually closed the gap and tied it at 35-all with 16:48 left. The Panthers missed an opportunity to move ahead and the spotlight would turn to a one Kavion McClain over the next eight minutes.
 
McClain was fouled with 16:21 left and hit two free throws for a 37-35 lead. PVAMU would knot it again at 37-all after a Pettway tip-in but McClain answered with a trey for a 40-37 margin. McClain's try jumpstarted a series where TSU would score on eight consecutive possessions as the lead jumped to 51-42. McClain continued to heat up from that point as he scored eight of the next 10 points during a two-minute span as TSU opened it up and led 59-36.
 
By the time the dust settled and the crowd was feeling comfortable, TSU led 64-46 and was never seriously challenged from that point as they won their third straight over PVAMU and third consecutive game over them by double digits.
 
McClain led the way with 23 points, five rebounds, four steals and four assists. Zaire Hayes returned to the lineup with 14 points while Josh Farmer an Duane Posey added 10 each. Kolby Granger grabbed eight rebounds while Farmer and Kehlin Farooq had six boards.
 
TSU closes out the first half of SWAC play at Arkansas-Pine Bluff this Tuesday at 5 p.m. in Pine Bluff, Ark. as it marks a make-up contest from early January.