(Interstat) — In a taut, back-and-forth Southwestern Athletic Conference battle that came down to the final second, the Texas Southern Tigers escaped the Davey Whitney Complex with a narrow 72-71 victory over the Alcorn State Braves on Saturday, January 17, 2026.

The game, a matchup of teams seeking traction in the conference, delivered a frantic finish befitting its evenly matched participants. Texas Southern improved to 4-12 overall, while Alcorn State fell to 2-14.

The most important part of the game unfolded in the final half-minute, a sequence of clutch free throws, a critical missed opportunity, and a final defensive stand that decided the outcome. With the Tigers clinging to a 69-67 lead, Alcorn State’s Shane Lancaster was fouled on a three-point attempt with 9 seconds remaining. The Braves’ guard, who finished with 14 points, calmly sank all three free throws, giving Alcorn State its first lead since the opening minutes at 70-69 and sending the home crowd into a frenzy.

Texas Southern immediately advanced the ball and found its leading scorer, Alex Anderson. The 6-foot-6 junior from Memphis, Tennessee, who poured in a game-high 19 points, drove aggressively and drew a shooting foul with 2 seconds on the clock. With the game in the balance, Anderson stepped to the line and coolly made the first free throw to tie the game. He then sank the second, putting the Tigers back ahead 71-70.

Alcorn State had one final chance. Inbounding under its own basket, the Braves again looked to Lancaster, who was fouled on the floor with just a tenth of a second remaining. He made the first free throw to tie the game at 71-71 but missed the second attempt. Texas Southern’s Bryce Roberts secured the defensive rebound as time expired, sealing the one-point road win for the Tigers.

The dramatic conclusion capped a contest characterized by grinding defense and offensive struggles. Both teams finished with identical 64 possessions, with Texas Southern posting a slightly more efficient offensive rating of 113.1 to Alcorn State’s 111.1. The difference came not from the field, where both teams shot under 45 percent, but from volume and execution in other areas.

Texas Southern attempted 33 free throws, making 21, while Alcorn State was nearly perfect from the line but only attempted 23, making 21. The Tigers also capitalized on Alcorn State’s ball security issues, forcing 10 turnovers while committing only five, leading to a 5-3 edge in steals.

Anderson’s 19 points led a balanced Texas Southern attack. Bryce Roberts, a 6-foot-1 guard from Bossier City, Louisiana, added 20 points, and forward Troy Hupstead of Mount Vernon, New York, contributed 16 points and three assists. For Alcorn State, Davian Williams of Vicksburg, Mississippi, led with 15 points, supported by Lancaster’s 14 and 11 points each from Omari Hamilton of Atlanta, Georgia, and Tycen McDaniels of Columbus, Georgia.

The game began with Alcorn State establishing an early edge, but Texas Southern used a 12-2 run midway through the first half to seize control, taking a 34-32 lead into halftime. The second half saw eight lead changes as neither team could build a cushion larger than six points, setting the stage for the tense final minute.

According to Interstat’s ELO system, Alcorn State entered as a 68.8 percent favorite and was installed as a 1-point favorite by oddsmakers. The combined score of 143 fell under the over/under line of 146.5.

Texas Southern will look to build on the win with a quick turnaround, visiting Jackson State on Monday. Alcorn State aims to rebound when it hosts Prairie View, also on Monday.