BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - For the seventh time since 2014 and the third year in a row, Texas Southern raises the trophy on the court as Southwestern Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Tournament Champions.
The Tigers defeated Grambling State 61-58 to claim another trophy at Bartow Arena in Birmingham. As a result, Texas Southern clinches an automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament.
Winning never gets old for this dynastic program. However, this year's title run has a special place in the program's history.
The Tigers entered the tournament as a No. 8 seed. They knocked off No. 1 seed Alcorn State to begin the week. Texas Southern concluded by beating the No. 2 seed. Both Alcon State and Grambling State finished as regular-season co-SWAC champions.
'To be able to beat Alcorn and Grambling is very tough. I couldn't be more excited to bring a three-peat championship to Houston and cut the nets down in Birmingham,' Texas Southern head coach Johnny Jones said.
'This championship is at the top. We were the last team to qualify for the tournament. We had to play three road games at the end. We battled through the No. 1 and 2 seed. It's hard work. These guys put in the hard work and they get to see the fruits of their labor.'
Texas Southern sprinted to a 20-5 lead in the first half. The teams went to the locker room with a 31-18 halftime score. Grambling State put together a strong surge in the second half, drawing as close as 46-45 with 4:50 left in the game.
The ballgame remained close down the stretch. Unfortunately for Grambling State, it couldn't resurface from the hole.
'We started too slow and they started fast. I'm proud of our guys for competing. We had a phenomenal season,' Grambling State head coach Donte' Jones said.
Senior guard PJ Henry (5'10''-PG) was named MVP of the tournament. He scored 19 points and hit 4 of 8 from behind the arc against Grambling State. This included two clutch 3-pointers in the closing minutes.
'At the beginning of the game, I couldn't get my shots to go. My coach and teammates believed in me. Then they started falling at the right moment,' Henry said.
For the tournament, Henry averaged 18.6 per game. Zahad Munford (6'3''-G) led Grambling State with 12 points.

Courtesy of swac.org

All-Tournament MVP: PJ Henry (5'10''-PG) of Texas Southern
Player of the Year: Cameron Christon (6'6''-G) of GSU
Defensive Player of the Year: Olisa Akonobi (7'0''-C) of AAMU
Freshman of the Year: Zion Harmon (6'0''-PG-2002) of BCU
Newcomer of the Year: TJ Madlock (6'3''-G) of Alabama St.
Co-Coach of the Year: Landon Bussie of Alcorn St.
Co-Coach of the Year: Donte Jackson of GSU

All-SWAC First Team 2023

Christon

Doss

Brewton

Douglas

Collins

First Team
Cameron Christon (6'6''-G) of GSU
Shaun Doss (6'5''-G) of UAPB
Dominic Brewton (6'4''-G-2000) of Alcorn St.
William Douglas (6'5''-G) of PVAMU
Terry Collins (6'3''-G) of MVSU

All-SWAC Second Team 2023

Cowart

Nicholas

Harmon

Kendall

Whitley

Second Team
Shawndarius Cowart (6'3''-G) of GSU
Joirdon-Karl Nicholas (6'9''-F) of Texas Southern
Zion Harmon (6'0''-PG-2002) of BCU
Jeremiah Kendall (6'6''-F) of Alcorn St.
Brion Whitley (6'4''-G-1998) of Southern