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The bad news is one HBCU is out of the NCAA Tournament after one game, but the good news is that another one picked up its first-ever win in the Big Dance.
Texas Southern pounded North Carolina Central 64-46 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Sophomore Trae Jefferson led the way with 25 points for TxSU as it advances to take on top seed Xavier on Friday.
Jefferson with the tough finish for the Tigers to tie the game early! ?#MarchMadness #FirstFour pic.twitter.com/N5eg1jxhMp
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 14, 2018
The SWAC Champs took control of the game early and never relinquished it as the MEAC champs struggled to get anything done offensively outside of big man Raseean Davis. Davis finished with 19 points and 11 rebounds, but took just one shot in the second half for the Eagles.
He was the only player to finish in double figures for NCCU.
Dontae Clark added 18 points for TxSU and Trayvon Reed finished with 10 points and eight rebounds.
With its first-ever NCAA Tournament win, TxSU will now try to become the first no. 16 seed to knock off a no. 1.
Nothing but respect between these two coaches and longtime friends. ?#MarchMadness #FirstFour pic.twitter.com/RmHvKWqHzS
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 15, 2018
Whether or not that happens, Texas Southern won’t be intimidated as they have played a total of six teams in the NCAA Tournament.
“We knew that the record wouldn’t be who we are as a basketball team,” Davis said after the win. “I didn’t design our schedule to make us feel good. I designed our scheduled to make us get better, and we got better.”
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