North Carolina Opens Up The NCAA Tournament With Texas Southern

North Carolina who has  a record of 27-7 will head into the NCAA Tournament coming off a 93-83 loss to rival Duke in the ACC semifinals a week ago. 

Kennedy Meeks scored 19 points and 12 rebounds to lead the way for North Carolina who dominated in the first half but fell apart in the second half while blowing a 13 point advantage. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211517281

Texas Southern meanwhile has a record of 23-11 and is coming off winning the SWAC tournament for the third time in four years. 

Texas Southern fought off a late Alcorn State charge to win its third Southwestern Athletic Conference Basketball Tournament Championship in four years. The top-seeded Tigers prevailed 53-50. "according to http://tsuball.com/news/2017/3/11/mens-basketball-tigers-win-third-swac-tournament-title-in-four-years.aspx

Down 37-31 at the start of the fourth, the Braves opened the period on an 11-4 run, keyed by the Alcorn frontline of Marquis Vance and Reginal Johnson. Johnson buried a three and followed with a layup to tie the contest at 41 with 7:20 remaining in the game.

Denzel Dulin then handed Alcorn State the lead with a lay-up with 5:41 to go. Texas Southern answered with five straight points – sparked by a successful trip to the line by tournament MVP Marvin Jones -- to reclaim the advantage, but Johnson converted at the line to bring the Braves within one, and Kevin Scott scored for TSU to push the Tigers ahead by three. "according to http://tsuball.com/news/2017/3/11/mens-basketball-tigers-win-third-swac-tournament-title-in-four-years.aspx

Johnson subsequently scored, but Demontrae Jefferson buried the go-ahead three with 1:06 left just before the shot clock expired, giving Texas Southern the lead for good. The freshman iced it for TSU at the line, securing the championship. "according to http://tsuball.com/news/2017/3/11/mens-basketball-tigers-win-third-swac-tournament-title-in-four-years.aspx

"This time of year everybody is giving maximum effort out there on the floor," said TSU head coach Mike Davis. "Our team matched their intensity and we were able to get some timely buckets down the stretch to help us win the game."  

The defensive-minded game saw both sides shoot less than 40 percent on the day, with Alcorn State connecting on just 33 percent of their shots.

Scott led Texas Southern with 15 points and 12 rebounds. Jones was 6-of-7 from the floor, scoring 14 points, snagging seven rebounds and swatting four shots. Jefferson added 13 points highlighted by a critical three-point basket late in the game. "according to http://tsuball.com/news/2017/3/11/mens-basketball-tigers-win-third-swac-tournament-title-in-four-years.aspx

The trio of Jefferson, Scott, and Jones scored 42 of Texas Southern's 53 points. The Tigers shot 39.2 percent from the field, while Alcorn State was at just 33.3 percent. "according to http://tsuball.com/news/2017/3/11/mens-basketball-tigers-win-third-swac-tournament-title-in-four-years.aspx

Tip-off is set for 4:00 pm. The game will be televised on TNT. "according to http://www.goheels.com/SportSelect.dbml?SITE=UNC&DB_OEM_ID=3350&SPID=12965&SPSID=668157