HOUSTON – For the third time in five years, the Texas Southern University Men’s basketball team made it to the Big Dance.
The 16th seeded Tigers lost to No. 1 seed North Carolina 103-64 in the 2017 NCAA Basketball Tournament on Friday, but fans didn't let the big difference in seeding put a damper on their hopes.
“This is so exciting for us, for our school, for our city, very exciting,” said TSU Alum Christy Ware who graduated from the College of Pharmaceuticals in 2001.
Ware, along with about 50 other alum, students, faculty and staff, watched the game at the Sterling Student Life Center on TSU's campus.
"Coach (Mike) Davis has been really consistent since he's been here, he's building a really good program,” explained TSU alum John Spencer.
Davis led the men’s basketball team to back-to-back appearances in the tournament in 2014 and 2015.
Even though historically the odds are against No. 16 seeded teams, fans were hoping TSU would pull off an upset.
"You know, it's Saint Patrick's Day, anything can happen, and I think our Tigers will pull it off today,” said Houston City Council Member Dwight Boykins, who is also a TSU alum.
"Odds are made to be broken, history is made to be broken, this is going to be the first time, I'm very excited,” said Ware.
Alum and fans are also proud of the national exposure this gives TSU.
The TSU Women’s basketball team will play against Baylor Saturday night.
The Tigers are 16th seeded and the Baylor Bears are a No. 1 seed.