Finding ways to win while on the road can be difficult in any sport. However the men’s basketball team has won two of its last threegames on the road; with the most recent win coming Saturday in Lorman, Miss against conference foe Alcorn State.
The most important key to winning on the road is defense. The Jaguars scored the last seven points of the game, and held the Braves scoreless in the closing four minutes of the game. “Our defense down the stretch really made the difference for us,” said Head Coach Roman Banks. The Jags controlled the score of the game for both halves, leading by four at the break; and extending their lead to 11 with eight minutes left in the contest. Senior forward Keith Davis kicked off the run with a hook shot. Sophomore guard Trelun Banks fed junior guard Adrian Rodgers for a layup and a quick deuce. Following that, senior guard Tre Lynch assisted on a quick two points with a pass to senior guard Joell Hopkins. Rodgers complemented that basket by sinking a three, which gave SU a 46-35 lead midway through the second half. “I thought we had a great offensive run to extend the lead,” eluded Banks.
However, ASU went on a run of their own. With a little over four minutes remaining, ASU’s junior guard LeAntwan Luckett sank three free throws and freshman guard Reginald Johnson scored nine consecutive points for the Braves to cut the SU lead to one, 56-55. Then Banks made a decision, bring his junior guard Christopher Hyder back in the lineup for a defensive edge. “Then I went ahead and brought Hyder back in, which gave us a little better defensive lineup,” said Banks. With Hyder back in the ballgame, the Jags countered the Braves’ run from the previous seconds. Senior big man Frank Snow hit two clutch free throws. The other big man, freshman power forward Jared Same, followed those important free throws with a free throw of his own.
In the following moments, Hyder forced a turnover with a steal and dished the rock to his backcourt teammate Banks. Banks followed the steal with a layup on the fast break. Rodgers hit three free throws in the concluding moments. Hyder made a free throw as well to finish off the Jaguar run. “We just had to lock in and focus,” said Sam. “We didn’t want to have the same thing happen that happened in the Alabama State game.” Rodgers put in a game high 25 points, Sam finished with nine points of his own; and a team high 10 rebounds.
Southern now improves to 7-2 in SWAC play, and 10-13 overall. They will host rival Grambling State this Saturday at 5:30. The game will be on Cox Sports Television. ASU now falls to 3-6 in the SWAC and 4-17 overall. “The second-half start was a little bit better and it helped us tonight,” said coach Banks. “It took them time and energy to get close, and we finished on our run.”
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Hardwood success continues: Jags overpowered Alcorn State and maintaines momentum on the road
February 4, 2015
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