NCAA Game Summary - Alabama State vs. Texas Southern

Houston, TX (SportsNetwork.com) - Aaric Murray scored 16 points and pulled down five rebounds for Texas Southern as the Tigers defeated the Alabama State Hornets, 73-61, in the semifinals of the Southwestern Athletic Conference Tournament at the Toyota Center.

D'Aris Scarver accounted for 14 points and eight rebounds, although he shot just 3-of-9 behind the 3-point line for second-seeded Texas Southern (18-14) in the win. Madarious Gibbs added 12 points and a game-high seven assists, but at the same time he was charged with nine turnovers.

The third-seeded Hornets (19-12) were paced by Jamel Waters as he produced 21 points, six rebounds and six assists, but shot only 6-of-18 from the floor and suffered five miscues. Luther Page pitched in with 13 points off the bench, hitting a perfect 4-of-4 from the floor, and Terrance LeFlore 12 points, to go along with five steals.

Alabama State held a brief two-point advantage early in the first half, but the squad converted a mere 7-of-24 shots from the floor and missed all five chances behind the 3-point line in the frame, en route to a 30-19 deficit at the break.

After connecting on just 1-of-2 at the free-throw line through the first 20 minutes, the Tigers feasted at the charity stripe in the second half with 18- of-22 accuracy. It also helped that the squad made good on 64.7 percent from the floor in the period as well.

Texas Southern, which held the Hornets to a mere 1-of-8 shooting beyond the arc, managed to overcome 18 turnovers on the day.

Texas Southern will now take on Prairie View in the title game of the tournament on Saturday afternoon with an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament on the line.