Alabama A&M Heads to SWAC Tournament Quarterfinals Against Texas Southern The Alabama A&M University men’s basketball team will compete in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Tournament quarterfinals on Thursday, facing Texas Southern at the Gateway Center Arena in Atlanta, Ga. The Bulldogs, seeded fifth in the tournament, will take on the fourth-seeded Tigers in a 2 p.m. contest broadcast on ESPN+. The matchup marks the first meeting between the teams this season, though they crossed paths once during the regular season. In a game on January 24 in Houston, Texas, Texas Southern staged a dramatic comeback, overcoming a 16-point deficit in the second half to secure an 89-74 victory. Alabama A&M enters the tournament with a 17-14 record, having lost three of its last four games. The Bulldogs’ regular-season finale ended in a 88-85 loss to Southern at the AAMU Event Center on March 5. Texas Southern, with a 12-17 record, closed its regular season with two consecutive wins, falling to Prairie View A&M in their final game. The tournament seeding includes Bethune-Cookman as the No. 1 seed, Florida A&M as the No. 2 seed, and Southern as the No. 3 seed. Arkansas-Pine Bluff is the sixth seed, with Jackson State and Prairie View A&M ranked seventh and eighth, respectively. Grambling State is the ninth seed, and Alabama State is the 10th. Alcorn State and Mississippi Valley State round out the bracket as the 11th and 12th seeds. The Bulldogs’ path to the tournament included a first winning season in 21 years, highlighted by key performances from players like Davis and Graham. Despite recent setbacks, Alabama A&M aims to build on its momentum in the postseason.#gateway_center_arena #texas_southern #alabama_a_m #southwestern_athletic_conference #atlanta_ga
SWAC Tournament Game Preview: Tigers Look to Stay Hot as Bulldogs Seek Revenge The SWAC Basketball Tournament doesn’t reward sentiment or history—it only rewards teams that show up ready to fight. For Texas Southern, that means facing Alabama A&M in a quarterfinal matchup that blends a grudge match with a proving ground. The Tigers, seeded fourth, will take on the fifth-seeded Bulldogs on Thursday, a game that carries weight beyond just the standings. The two programs have a history of intense competition, most notably a dramatic regular-season showdown where Texas Southern erased a 16-point deficit to win 89-74. Now, in single-elimination play, both teams know the scoreboard means nothing. The matchup also carries an undercurrent tied to Otis Hughley Jr., the longtime TSU assistant coach who recently took over as head coach at Alabama A&M. For Hughley, the game represents more than just a rivalry—it’s a personal challenge, as he seeks to lead his new team past his former program. TSU head coach Johnny Jones acknowledged the emotional stakes for Hughley but emphasized that the focus remains on the present. “Every game is separate, especially when you get to the postseason,” Jones said. The tension between the teams was evident in their regular-season clash, with both sides playing with intensity, technical fouls called, and a sense of pride that reflects the legacies of both programs. Texas Southern’s path to this point has been defined by resilience. Their January victory over Alabama A&M was fueled by a strong bench, with reserves contributing 41 points. However, the Tigers now face a challenge in maintaining that depth. Several veteran contributors have been sidelined by injuries, and key forward Troy Hupstead—TSU’s leading scorer and rebounder, as well as a second-team All-SWAC honoree—has been out.#texas_southern #alabama_a_m #otis_hughley_jr #johnny_jones #koron_davis
