Southern Jaguars Break Six-Year Drought with SWAC Tournament Victory

The Southern University Jaguars are headed to the semifinals after securing their first SWAC Tournament victory in six years, defeating Arkansas-Pine Bluff 84-81 in a thrilling Thursday night showdown that came down to the final seconds.

Terrance Dixon Jr. played the hero for Southern, driving through the Golden Lions defense for a crucial layup with just 28 seconds remaining to seal the victory and send the Jaguars into Friday's semifinal matchup against second-seeded Florida A&M.

Oshodi Sets the Tone Early

Fazl Oshodi delivered a masterful performance, leading all Southern scorers with 18 points on an efficient 6-for-10 shooting from the field. His perimeter shooting was particularly lethal, as he connected on 4-of-7 attempts from three-point range, stretching Arkansas-Pine Bluff's defense throughout the contest.

Balanced Attack Powers the Jaguars

Southern's victory was truly a team effort, with contributions coming from across the roster:

• Malek Abdelgowad added 17 points in his first game back after a month-long injury absence
• Cam Amboree chipped in 14 points, including a scorching 4-for-5 from beyond the arc, with 11 of those points coming after halftime
• The Jaguars' balanced scoring kept Arkansas-Pine Bluff's defense off-balance throughout the game

Golden Lions Refuse to Surrender

Arkansas-Pine Bluff made Southern earn every possession, led by an outstanding all-around performance from Quion Williams. Williams posted an impressive stat line of 21 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, and three steals, impacting the game on both ends of the floor. Jaquan Scott contributed 20 points and six rebounds, while Alex Mirhosseini added 15 points as the Golden Lions stayed within striking distance deep into the second half.

The game remained tense throughout, with Arkansas-Pine Bluff threatening to complete a comeback before Dixon's clutch layup pushed Southern's lead to two possessions. The Jaguars' defense held firm in the final seconds to preserve the victory and end UAPB's season at 13-19.

Southern now faces a quick turnaround as they prepare for Friday's semifinal clash with Florida A&M, riding the momentum of their first tournament victory in six years.

Originally reported by HBCU Sports.