The Texas Southern Tigers basketball team is the basketball team that represents Texas Southern University in Houston, Texas, United States. The team currently competes in the Southwestern Athletic Conference. Their current head coach is Johnny Jones, who took over after Mike Davis took the Detroit Mercy head coaching job on June 5, 2018.[2][3] Texas Southern has appeared in the NCAA tournament 11 times, and most recently in 2023. The Tigers play their home games at the Health and Physical Education Arena.
| Texas Southern Tigers | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| |||
 | |||
| University | Texas Southern University | ||
| Head coach | Johnny Jones (6th season) | ||
| Conference | SWAC | ||
| Location | Houston, Texas | ||
| Arena | Health and Physical Education Arena (Capacity: 8,100) | ||
| Nickname | Tigers | ||
| Colors | Maroon and gray[1] | ||
| NCAA tournament appearances | |||
| 1990, 1994, 1995, 2003, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022, 2023 | |||
| Conference tournament champions | |||
| 1990, 1994, 1995, 2003, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022, 2023 | |||
| Conference regular season champions | |||
| 1957, 1958, 1977, 1983, 1989, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1998, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017 | |||
Notable win
The Texas Southern Tigers defeated perennial power and nationally ranked Michigan State Spartans on December 20, 2014 in East Lansing, Michigan. The Tigers won in overtime with a score of 71–64. TSU is the first HBCU team to beat a team that went on to reach the Final Four that same season.[4]
Basketball rivalries
Prairie View A&M basketball rivalry
The Texas Southern-Prairie View A&M rivalry is the highest attended and most anticipated basketball series in the SWAC. In February 2015, the game at Texas Southern University had an attendance of 7,500+.[5]
Southern University basketball rivalry
Since the 1990s, Texas Southern and Southern have been top contenders for the SWAC Championship every year. As a result, matchups between the schools are heavily anticipated and competitive.
Postseason results
NCAA tournament results
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The Tigers have appeared in eleven NCAA Tournaments, the most in the conference. Their combined record is 3–11, tying them with Alcorn State for the most wins by a SWAC school in the tournament.
| Year | Seed | Round | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | #14 | First Round | #3 Georgetown | L 52–70 |
| 1994 | #15 | First Round | #2 Duke | L 70–82 |
| 1995 | #15 | First Round | #2 Arkansas | L 78–79 |
| 2003 | #16 | Opening Round | #16 UNC Asheville | L 84–92OT |
| 2014 | #16 | First Four | #16 Cal Poly | L 69–81 |
| 2015 | #15 | First Round | #2 Arizona | L 72–93 |
| 2017 | #16 | First Round | #1 North Carolina | L 64–103 |
| 2018 | #16 | First Four First Round | #16 North Carolina Central #1 Xavier | W 64–46 L 83–102 |
| 2021 | #16 | First Four First Round | #16 Mount St. Mary's #1 Michigan | W 60–52 L 66–82 |
| 2022 | #16 | First Four First Round | #16 Texas A&M–Corpus Christi #1 Kansas | W 76–67 L 56–83 |
| 2023 | #16 | First Four | #16 Fairleigh Dickinson | L 61–84 |
NIT results
The Tigers have appeared in two National Invitation Tournament (NIT). Their combined record is 0–2.
| Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | First Round | Colorado | L 74–88 |
| 2016 | First Round | Valparaiso | L 73–84 |
CIT results
The Tigers have appeared in the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament (CIT), two times. Their record is 3–2.
| Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | First Round Second Round Quarterfinals Semifinals | New Orleans UT–Rio Grande Valley Louisiana–Monroe Green Bay | W 95–89OT W 94–85 W 108–1023OT L 86–87OT |
| 2024 | First Round | Tarleton | L 71–82 |
NAIA tournament results
The Tigers have appeared in the NAIA Tournament seven times. Their combined record is 18–6. They were NAIA National Champions in 1977.
| Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1955 | First Round Second Round | Adrian Gustavus Adolphus | W 102–83 L 55–67 |
| 1956 | First Round Second Round Quarterfinals Semifinals National Championship Game | Hastings Rockhust Midwestern State Wheaton McNeese State | W 108–61 W 64–61 W 85–82 W 82–73 L 55–60 |
| 1957 | First Round Second Round Quarterfinals | New Haven State Ball State Pacific Lutheran | W 67–66 W 97–72 L 72–91 |
| 1958 | First Round Second Round Quarterfinals Semifinals National 3rd Place Game | Oklahoma Baptist Drury Coe Tennessee State Georgetown (KY) | W 79–68 W 91–61 W 98–78 L 85–101 W 121–109 |
| 1971 | First Round | Fairmont State | L 78–79 |
| 1976 | First Round Second Round Quarterfinals | West Florida Fairmont State Coppin State | W 81–59 W 82–75 L 77–88 |
| 1977 | First Round Second Round Quarterfinals Semifinals National Championship Game | Central State Wisconsin Parkside East Texas State Grand Valley State Campbell | W 89–65 W 82–80 W 87–68 W 69–62 W 71–44 |
Notable players
- Jeremy Combs (born 1995), basketball player for Israeli team Hapoel Ramat Gan Givatayim
- Marvin Jones (born 1993), basketball player in the Israeli Basketball Premier League
