Getty Image / Michael Wade
- Texas Southern opened the NCAA Tournament with a First Four matchup against Texas A&M Corpus Cristi
- The game featured an awesome chase down block in the second half
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It’s finally here.
March Madness has finally begun and it is already delivering on all of the expectations the NCAA Tournament carries with it.
The tournament opened with a battle of auto-bid teams from Texas. SWAC champion Texas Southern took on Southland champion Texas A&M Corpus Christi with both teams vying for a chance to take on Kansas on Thursday.
The tournament opener was a back and forth battle that was heavily impacted by two factors for Texas Southern. One was their free throw shooting. They were 25-33 from the line while Corpus Cristi shot a brutal 9-19. The other was their defensive dominance in the paint. Southern block 9 shots in the game, including this awesome chase down block from AJ Lawson.
DENIED! LeBron James has to be impressed with this one.
What a chase down block! pic.twitter.com/QgXY3n2kIR
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) March 16, 2022
That block served as a turning point for Texas Southern as they fought to stay alive in the tournament. At the time of the block, Texas A&M Corpus Cristi had just taken their largest lead of the second half at 55-51. After the block, Southern outscored Corpus Cristi 25-12 to eventually win by a score of 76-67.
This is now the second consecutive season that Texas Southern has won a First Four game in the NCAA Tournament. Last season, they followed it up with a 16 point loss to Michigan. This season, they’ll meet Kansas in the last game on Thursday and attempt to become the second team in March Madness history to know off a 1-seed as a 16.
March Madness is already off to a great start and we’re sure to get plenty more excitement out of the rest of the NCAA Tournament First Four.