Texas Southern advances for the first time in University history

HOUSTON (March 15, 2018) Texas Southern University (TSU) continues its historic drive in the NCAA Tournament after moving on Wednesday night with a decisive 64-46 win over North Carolina Central in the First Four round of the NCAA Tournament. The victory secured TSU’s invitation to the Big Dance and a prime-time television match.

The 16th-ranked Tigers advance to face #1 seed Xavier (Ohio) on Friday night in Nashville. The game will air at 6:20 pm on TBS. A campus watch party for students, faculty and staff will be held in TSU’s Sterling Student Life Center.  TSU’s team, under the tutelage of Coach Mike Davis, is enjoying their fourth appearance in the NCAA Tournament with invitations in 2014, 2015 and 2017.

TSU’s win Wednesday night was a first in the team’s history. The victory was driven by Damontrae Jefferson, a 5-foot-7 point guard whose wily, quick moves spurred the drive over North Carolina Central. Jefferson, who scored 25 points and snagged eight rebounds, described the win as ‘a blessing’ and ‘for the university.’

Head Coach Mike Davis said, “You create miracles in March. Everybody who loves basketball…will watch March Madness.”

ABOUT TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY

Texas Southern University (TSU) honors our designation as a special-purpose institution for urban programming and research. TSU is a comprehensive university providing higher education access to the nation’s underserved communities. TSU’s academic and research programs address critical urban issues, and prepares its diverse student population to become a force for positive change in a global society. TSU offers more than 100 undergraduate and graduate programs and concentrations – bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral and professional degrees – organized into 10 colleges and schools on a 150-acre campus nestled in the heart of Houston’s historic Third Ward. The University’s enrollment has a population of more than 10,000 undergraduate and graduate-school academic candidates. Texas Southern has been a distinguished educational pioneer since 1927, and the University has become one of the most diverse and respected institutions in Texas. TSU has positioned itself as a proactive leader in educating underserved students and many who are the first in their family to attend college.

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