BATON ROUGE, La. (Interstat) — Michael Jacobs scored 27 points and Southern used a dominant first half to build a substantial lead before holding off a late Texas Southern rally for an 84-73 victory in a Southwestern Athletic Conference men’s basketball game Saturday night at the Clark Activity Center.

A crowd of 4,357 saw the Jaguars (5-9, 1-0 SWAC) snap a four-game losing streak and open conference play with a win. The Tigers (2-10, 0-1) dropped their third straight despite a more competitive second half.

The game’s most pivotal stretch came early, as Southern established immediate control. After a slow start from both teams, the Jaguars unleashed a 19-2 run over a six-minute span in the first half to turn a narrow 8-6 edge into a commanding 27-8 advantage. Jacobs, a 6-foot-2 guard from Atlanta, was the catalyst, scoring nine points during the surge and facilitating the offense with precision. Southern’s defense forced six Texas Southern turnovers during the run, converting them into easy transition opportunities.

Southern took a 42-29 lead into halftime, shooting efficiently and sharing the ball with 11 assists on 15 made field goals. The Jaguars’ interior presence, led by 6-foot-10 forward Malek Abdelgowad of Cairo, Egypt, who finished with 20 points, provided a consistent counterpoint to Jacobs’ perimeter play.

Texas Southern emerged from the break with renewed energy, chipping away at the deficit throughout the second half. The Tigers cut the lead to single digits on multiple occasions, closing to within 64-56 with just over 10 minutes remaining after a 3-pointer by Bryce Roberts of Bossier City, Louisiana, who had 10 points and five assists.

Each time the Tigers threatened, however, Southern had an answer, often from Jacobs or Abdelgowad. A crucial sequence occurred with just over four minutes left and Southern leading 75-70. After a defensive stop, Jacobs drove and kicked to Brandon Hardy for a layup, and then drew a foul on the ensuing possession, hitting two free throws to push the lead back to nine points and effectively seal the game.

Jacobs’ all-around performance included six assists, a block and a steal in 33 minutes. His backcourt mate, Cam Amboree of Pearland, Texas, added eight points and eight assists, directing the offense with control. DaMariee Jones contributed eight points and two assists for the Jaguars.

For Texas Southern, Alex Anderson of Memphis, Tennessee, led the way with 18 points. Zaire Hayes of Houston scored 12 points, while Troy Hupstead of Mount Vernon, New York, added 11 points and three assists. Duane Posey, also of Memphis, provided a spark off the bench with nine points in just nine minutes.

Southern’s victory improved its record in games where it was heavily favored, as Interstat’s ELO system had projected the Jaguars with a 75.1% probability to win. The combined score of 157 points fell under the pregame over/under line of 154.

Both teams continue SWAC play on Monday. Southern will host Prairie View, while Texas Southern travels to face Grambling.