Treasure’s 21 points lead Texas Southern past Grambling 60-57, into SWAC title game

Texas Southern knocks off Grambling 60-57

BOSSIER CITY, La. — Junior Treasure scored 21 points and DeAndre Hall added 20 as fifth-seeded Texas Southern topped eighth-seeded Grambling State 60-57 in the semifinals of the Southwestern Athletic Conference tournament on Friday night.

The Tigers (17-15) will face Arkansas-Pine Bluff (16-15), the No. 2 seed, in Saturday’s championship game.

Grambling trimmed a 10-point halftime deficit to two on back-to-back dunks from 6-foot-9 senior George Akpeld. The second cut the lead to 43-41 with 12:45 remaining.

Grambling had two possessions with a chance to tie the game — or take the lead with a 3-pointer — midway through the second half, but could not breakthrough.

Texas Southern’s lead moved to 10 with 7:48 left.

Grambling fought to within 60-57 and had the ball with 1:23 remaining, but the Tigers shot an air ball and then threw the ball into the seats on a 2-on-1 the next trip.