Box Score HOUSTON, Texas - The Braves fought hard tonight but allowed 40 points in the paint en route to their first SWAC loss of the season to Texas Southern, 83-66.
Both teams came out trading baskets for majority of the first half.
Texas Southern struck with a 3-0 lead at the 18:59 mark but the Braves answered quickly with a dunk by
LeAntwan Luckett and a put back by
Stephan Raquil to give the Braves a one-point lead, 4-3.
Aaric Murray nailed a three-pointer moments later to regain the lead for the Tigers 6-4. Exactly three seconds later Luckett hit a three-pointer to retake the lead 7-6.
Two minutes later the Braves got two back-to-back three's from Devontae Hampton and
Anthony Evans to take their largest lead of the game 13-9. But Texas Southern would tie the game at 15-15 on a layup by Madarious Gibbs with 12:13 to play in the first half.
Several lead changes and ties took place for the next several minutes until Texas Southern broke open a 13-0 run with 6:33 to play in the first half to increase the lead to 38-25.
The Braves only scored six points in the final six minutes of the first half and were down 44-31 at the half.
In the first five minutes of the second half, Texas Southern boosted their lead up to as many as 24 points, 63-39 with 14:41 to play.
The Braves tried to rally by cutting the lead to 70-58 with 6:46 to play on a layup by Luckett. But 9-2 run by Texas Southern led by Murray which pretty much sealed the deal for the Tigers.
Luckett led the Braves with 26 points, five rebounds, and five assists.
Octavius Brown picked up his first double-double of the season scoring 12 points and snatching down 12 rebounds.
Texas Southern had four players in double figures led by Murray with 26 points and 11 rebounds. Jose Rodriguez chipped in 16 points and 10 rebounds. Lawrence Johnson-Danner and D'Angelo Scott added 14 and 13 points, respectively.
The Braves are back in acton Monday night at Prairie View. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m.
