Mississippi Valley State Men's Basketball (5-23, 3-11) vs. Texas Southern (15-11, 10-3)
Date(s): Monday, Feb. 25, 2019
Time(s): 7:30 p.m. (CT)
Facility: H&PE Arena (Houston, TX)
PROBABLE STARTERS: G Jordan Evans (6-2, Sr., 12,1 ppg, 2.1 rpg);
G Gregory Jones-Rollins (5-7, So., 11.0 ppg, 3.2 rpg);
G Patrick Rucker (6-, Fr., 1.0 ppg, 0.6 rpg);
SF Dante Scott (6-4, Sr., 12.8 ppg, 5.1 rpg);
C Emmanuel Ejeh (6-8, Sr., 6.0 ppg, 7.8 rpg).
DELTA DEVILS OVERVIEW: Mississippi Valley State (5-23, 3-11) dropped a close one on the road at Prairie View, 69-63, their last time out. Prior, MVSU snapped a nine-game losing skid and won a pair of games at home against Alcorn State (76-68) and to Southern (70-59). On the season, the Delta Devils are 0-19 on the road and are looking for their first victory away from the RW Harrison HPER Complex. Seniors Dante Scott currently leads the Delta Devils in scoring (12.8 ppg) followed by Jordan Evans (12.1 ppg) and rounded out by Gregory Jones-Rollins (11.0). Emmanuel Ejeh leads the team's rebounding efforts with 7.8 rpg.
TEXAS SOUTHERN OVERVIEW: The defending SWAC champions, Texas Southern (15-11, 10-3) are on a current seven-game win streak dating back to their trip to Itta Bena on Jan. 28 against MVSU. Recently, TSU breezed past Arkansas-Pine Bluff 94-74 on Saturday. Last season, the Tigers went 16-20 on the season with 15 conference wins including the conference championship game. Under the direction of first-year head coach, Johnny Jones, the Tigers are leading the SWAC in three=point field goal attempts (580), assist-turnover ratio (1.01), assists per game (14.7), scoring offense (78.8), three-point field goals per game (7.5), total three-point field goals made (181), total assists (353), and won-lost percentage (54.2). Leading scorer, Jeremy Combs (16.1 ppg), leads the conference in field-goal percentage (57.1), offensive rebounds per game (3.88), and rebounds per game (8.5). The Tigers have three players that score in double-digits this season lead by Combs and followed by Trayvon Reed (13.1 ppg) and Jaylyn Patterson (12.1 ppg).
LAST TIME OUT
MVSU won two games at home against Alcorn State (76-68) and Southern (70-59). In the matchup against Alcorn State, dour Delta Devils scored in double-figures with Dante Scott and Jordan Evans finishing with 20 points each. Against Southern, Dante Scott registered a season-best 27 points while Emmanuel Ejeh recorded a game-high 14 rebounds.
UP NEXT
The Delta Devils will end the regular season playing on their home court in the R.W. Harrison Complex. MVSU will host Jackson State (March 2), Grambling State (March 4), and UAPB (March 9).
NEWS & NOTES
- Emmanuel Ejeh leads the SWAC in total rebounds (210)
- In the SWAC standings, Emmanuel Ejeh sits within the top 3 in defensive rebounds per game (5.15), offensive rebounds per game (2.63), rebounds per game (7.8)
- MVSU through 27 games is shooting 37.8 percent from the field, 30.1 percent from beyond the arc, and 65.9 percent from the free throw line
- MVSU is averaging 36.2 rebounds per game, 11.2 assists per game, 5.8 steals per game, 2.1 blocks per game, and 12.9 turnovers per game
- MVSU ranks 2nd in the conference in personal fouls per game (17.6) and total rebounds (978)
- MVSU ranks 3rd in the conference in fewest turnovers (349)
