Terrence Joyner scored 21 points as Mississippi Valley State got off to a sizzling start and held on to beat Texas Southern 89-76 Monday night.
The Delta Devils (7-13, 6-1) moved into a tie for the Southwestern Athletic Conference lead with the Tigers (8-10, 6-1) and idle Jackson State.
Mississippi Valley, which averaged 77.5 points in its first six SWAC contests, nearly reached that by intermission, taking a 60-36 halftime lead on 63.9-percent shooting (23 of 36).
It was different in the second half, when the Delta Devils managed just one field goal in a stretch of 13:23, as the Tigers trimmed a 69-40 lead to 76-69 with 3:32 remaining.
A three-point play by Jason Holmes, a 3-pointer by Joyner and a jumper by William Pugh restored the lead to 15 points, 84-69.
Kevin Galloway and Travele Jones led Texas Southern with 20 points each.
