March 13, 2008

Final Stats

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The No. 4 seeded Jackson State men's basketball team is one step closer to repeating as Southwestern Athletic Conference champions, with a 56-55 win over No. 5 Southern University Thursday night at the Fair Park Arena in Birmingham, Ala.

Three Tigers scored in double figures as the Tigers won a hard fought quarter final round game. Darrion Griffin scored a game high 18 points on 6-9 shooting. He also went 3-4 from three point range. Catraiva Givens and Jeremy Caldwell each added 12 points. Givens finished with a game-high four assists and two steals.

"It was a big win out there tonight. I thought Southern was well prepared to play. I knew they were going to come back," said JSU head coach Tevester Anderson. "We hung tough. We talk about being defending champions, and we are trying to defend our title."

Three Jaguars also scored in double digits. Barry Honore' led Southern with 16 points on 5-16 shooting. Joe Holliday followed with 15 points and Chris Davis added 11.

"Jackson is a very competitive team and has a nice coach," said Southern head coach Rod Spivery. "We didn't generate as much offense in the first half. Unfortunately, my guys fought so hard, they ended up losing it. It was an exciting ball game for sure."

Jackson State took a 25-18 lead into halftime. In the second half Southern outscored JSU 37-31. For the game Jackson State shot 39.2 from the field (20-51), 35% in three-pointers (7-20), and 56.3% from the free throw line (9-16). Southern shot 32.7% from the floor (18-55), 21.4% in threes (3-14), and 84.2% from the line (16-19).

Jackson State will next face No. 1 Alabama State in the semi-final round of the SWAC Tournament. Tip-off is set for 8 pm.

Notes: *Southern outscored JSU 26-18 in the paint *The game had six lead changes *Jackson State's largest lead was 12 points at the 12:15 mark in the first quarter, Southern's largest lead was one point at the :39 mark in the second