Five TSU Tigers score in double-digits in win over Alcorn State

Posted: January 3, 2018 -- 11:23 pm CST.

HOUSTON, TX (H&PE Arena) -- The Texas Southern University Tigers were without their projected starting backcourt Wednesday night as Kevin Scott missed the game due to his injured knee and Demontrae Jefferson was suspended for his actions in the final seconds of Monday's game versus Southern. With Scott and Jefferson not playing, Derrick Bruce, Brian Carey, and Cainan McClelland stepped up to give the Tigers an 85-70 win Wednesday night.

After earning SWAC Player of the Week honors for his stellar numbers the previous week, Bruce began scored a game-high 25 points to lead five Tigers in double-digit scoring. Trayvon Reed, 7'2", scored 17 points and pulled down 12 rebounds while Donte Clark scored 13; McClelland scored 12 off the bench; and Brian Carey added 10 points.

After Reed sank two free throws to tie the game at 13, Alcorn State went on a 21-6 run in 4 minutes and 41 seconds to lead the Tigers 33-19. Then, Derrick Bruce and Reed combined for 15 points during a 15-0 run to put Texas Southern ahead 34-33 with 3:49 remaining in the first half.

The Tigers' run grew to 19-3 for a 38-36 lead at halftime.

Bruce and Reed continued their tag-team early in the second half.  Bruce made a three-point shot to begin the second-half scoring; then, Reed knocked down a jump shot and a free throw before slamming home an alley-oop pass from Brian Carey to boost the Tigers' lead to 46-36 at the 17:35 mark of the second stanza.

Alcorn State pulled within 7 points before Texas Southern stretched the lead to 13 (59-46) with 12:48 remaining.

The Braves made one more push at the Tigers and trimmed the Tigers' lead to 7 (68-61) with 7:34 on the game clock. However' Cainan McClelland swished a three-point shot to up the lead to 10 points; and, the Braves did not get any closer the rest of the ball game.

After shooting 33.3% (9 for 27) from the floor in the first half, Texas Southern made 16 of 32 field goals (50%) in the second half. The Tigers dominated the boards with a 45-18 advantage.

Texas Southern's next game is Saturday, January 6, versus arch-rival Prairie View A&M. Both teams are 2-0 in SWAC play. The men's game will start approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of the women's game which starts at 5:30 p.m.

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