Texas Southern is looking at making the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2003, as the Tigers will take on the top-seeded Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils in the 2012 SWAC Tournaments Finals in Garland.
It will be a tall-order for the Tigers, but not impossible, as they lost a 77-69 overtime decision to MVSU at home in January, and then dropped a three-point decison on the road in Itta Bena last month. The Tigers are looking to do to MVSU, what was done to them by Alabama State last season.
After Texas Southern won the 2011 SWAC regular season title, Alabama State upset the Tigers in the semi-finals and then advanced to the NCAA Tournament with a 65-48 victory over Grambling.
Keys for the Tigers will include boxing out and better rebounding on the boards, as the Delta Devils out rebounded the Tigers in both prior games. MVSU guard Terrance Joyner is a a combined 9-of-11 from behind the three-point-line the previous two matchups as well, so the Tigers will need to extend the defense in addition to boxing out.
Omar Strong, the 5'9" junior guard, will again be the featured player on offense for Texas Southern as he has scored in double figures in seven of the last eight games, including a 32 point outburst against Arkansas-Pine Bluff back on February 18.
Date / Time: Saturday, March 10, 7 p.m. CST
Location: The Special Events Center, Garland, Texas
TV: ESPNU
Streaming: ESPN3