Bruce, Jefferson combine for 71 points in Texas Southern win

Feb 27, 2018, 05:37 am

HOUSTON -- Derrick Bruce and Demontrae Jefferson combined to make 12 of Texas Southern's 13 3-pointers and scored 71 points to help the Tigers beat Alabama State 95-77 on Monday night.

Texas Southern (10-19, 10-6 Southwestern Conference) is in a three-way tie with Prairie View A&M and Southern for third in the standings, a half-game behind Arkansas-Pine Bluff and full game behind Grambling State.

Bruce, who hit nine 3-pointers and finished with 35 points in Saturday's win over Alabama A&M, scored a career-high 37 with eight 3s two days later while Jefferson tied his career best with 34 points. Jefferson, a sophomore, has scored at least 20 points in 12 of his 20 games this season.

Bruce and Jefferson hit back-to-back 3s to give TSU the lead for good at 18-12 and the Tigers scored the last nine points of the first half to make it 46-29. Alabama State trailed by double figures the rest of the way.

Reginald Gee led the Hornets (7-21, 7-9) with 19 points, Jacoby Ross scored 16 and Branden Johnson 12.