Southern Jaguars Break Through: End Six-Year SWAC Tournament Victory Drought

After six long years of postseason frustration, the Southern University Jaguars have finally returned to the winner's circle in the SWAC tournament. In a thrilling Thursday night matchup, Southern delivered a gritty 84-81 victory over the Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions, marking the program's first conference tournament win since 2019 and a monumental milestone for head coach Kevin Johnson and his veteran-laden roster.

The back-and-forth contest featured nine ties and 10 lead changes, testing the Jaguars' mental toughness and composure. When it mattered most, Southern kept their cool down the stretch to secure the long-awaited postseason breakthrough.

For Johnson, the emotional significance of the moment wasn't lost on anyone in the program. The veteran coach reflected on what this victory meant, particularly for his senior class who battled through numerous setbacks.

"These two guys were great tonight, but there were seven seniors that suited out tonight. Every single one of those seniors missed critical games this year due to injury. I think it speaks to the resilience of this team that we've stayed together and been successful."

Johnson also acknowledged the personal and program significance of finally breaking through in tournament play, adding: "First one in six years. First one for me here. Even though we won the regular season last year, this is what you build for when you're building a program.

Offensive Efficiency Fuels Victory

The Jaguars played sharp, efficient basketball throughout the evening, shooting an impressive 56.9 percent from the field and 62.5 percent from three-point range. The offensive firepower came from multiple sources:

• Fazl Oshodi led Southern with 18 points, connecting on four three-pointers
• Malek Abdelgowad scored 17 points on 6-of-7 shooting in his first game back after missing nearly a month due to injury
• Cam Amboree contributed 14 points and five assists
• AJ Barnes recorded a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds
• The Jaguars' bench provided a crucial lift with 32 points

Oshodi credited his teammates for keeping his confidence high throughout the game, stating: "Honestly, I just trusted my teammates. They told me to keep shooting. I feel like my defense leads to my offense, so if I play with energy, the shots will fall."

Arkansas-Pine Bluff refused to go quietly, receiving strong performances from Quion Williams (21 points, 10 rebounds, five assists) and Jaquan Scott (20 points). Guards Alex Mirhosseini and Trevon Payton added 15 and 13 points respectively, helping the Golden Lions shoot 48.2 percent from the field. However, Southern's depth and timely scoring proved decisive.

Late in the game, forward Terrance Dixon Jr. delivered a crucial basket around the rim during one of the final lead changes. Johnson praised his forward's recent stretch: "He's been on a tear for about 10 games. If he gets the ball around the rim, he can dunk it before you blink. I'm proud of him for coming through tonight."

With the drought finally over, Southern now turns its attention to the next round against the Florida A&M Rattlers. After six years of waiting, the Jaguars have officially taken the next step—and they're hoping this tournament run is just beginning.

Originally reported by HBCU Gameday.