DOWN TO THE WIRE Jaguars fall to Tigers in a close finish at the SWAC Championship in Houston

This past Saturday the Southern University men’s basketball team faced Texas Southern in the SWAC Conference Championship in Houston, TX. On the outside looking in the game would seem meaningless to both teams, as probation would keep SU from entering the NCAA tournament. Due to SU’s tournament ban, TSU had already won the conference by default when they defeated Prairie View in the semifinals. Despite the fact that it seemed like the game had no serious implications, it was a very entertaining; as TSU came out victorious in the lasting moments of the game.
Southern led for a majority of the game. They had an eight-point eclipse eight minutes into the second half, 34-42. However the second have would be evenly fought between both teams. After leading for much of the second half the tables began to turn on the Jags in the closing moments of the game. The Jags captured their final lead 58-56 when sophomore guard Trelun Banks drained a clutch three pointer with 1:20 left. In the next waiting seconds, the momentum shifted to TSU’s side. SU’s Adrian Rodgers missed a jump shot and TSU grabbed the rebound, which fueled a tiger fast break.
TSU’s Malcolm Riley caught a pass and made an attempt for an easy fast break bucket. However, Banks met Riley at the rim. The following seconds after that were pivotal to the outcome of the game. When Banks met Riley at the rim, Banks went after the ball; trying to strip it to prevent a layup. Upon coming down, Banks’ arm came across Riley’s shoulder and neck and he fell awkwardly to the floor. The Jags’ Tre Lynch was trailing the fast break, but caught in the air and accidentally fell on top of Riley after trying to alter his shot from behind.
What seemed like a routine basketball play was deemed a flagrant 2 foul. Riley’s teammates rushed the court to check on him. There were no noteworthy conflicts. Both schools’ women’s basketball teams were entangled in a bench-clearing scuffle last weekend that resulted in more than a dozen players being suspended. Despite what was on the line, both men’s teams remained calm. Banks was called for the flagrant 2 foul, which rules state results in an automatic ejection and Riley was helped backed to their locker room with a bandage wrapped around his head. As a result of the flagrant foul TSU got two free throws and the ball. In nearly a minute’s time the Tigers had scored four points, all from free throws; and took a two-point edge 60-58.
With 22 seconds left, Head Coach Roman Banks called a time out. There was an ample amount of time to tie the game up, play excellent defense, and force the game into overtime. That’s what the plan was, but their attempt was spoiled when Rodgers, who is a marksman from mid-range, didn’t have a good attempt. “Rodgers didn’t have a shot, I came off a baseline screen and coach had given me the option to drive or shoot. Unfortunately I didn’t make the shot,” said Lynch. Lynch had a good look from three to put the Jags up one with under 20 seconds to go, but couldn’t capitalize. TSU would hit two more free throws to ice the game 62-58, and become SWAC Champions. “A lot of games came down to one possession.
This was a hard-fought basketball game. They’re regular-season champs, and they played like the regular-season champs,” said Head coach Roman Banks. For SU that game meant a lot to them as a team. Despite not being able to play in the tournament, winning the game meant they were conference champions and indeed the better team.