HOUSTON (AP) - Jalan McCloud scored 17 points on 6-of-9 shooting, Demontrae Jefferson added 14 points, four rebounds and four assists and Texas Southern used a big second-half run to beat Grambling 72-67 on Friday in the Southwestern Athletic Conference Tournament.
Marvin Jones had nine points and 11 rebounds and Kevin Scott grabbed 10 boards for top-seeded Texas Southern (22-11), which will play No. 2 seed Alcorn State or third-seeded Southern in Saturday’s championship game.
Grambling (16-17) made shot just 19 percent (6 of 31) in the first half but forced 14 TSU turnovers to stay within striking distance and trailed 29-19 at the break. Ivy Smith scored 10 of his 16 points during an 18-4 run that gave GSU its only lead, 37-53, with 11:56 to play. Zach Lofton converted a 3-point play 49 seconds later as Texas Southern scored 14 of the next 15 points and Grambling never seriously threatened thereafter.
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Ervin Mitchell had 19 points for fifth-seeded Grambling.
TSU has won 12 of its last 13 games, including eight in a row.
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