Courtesy of GSU Athletic Communications
Tigers 78, Jackson State 66
The Grambling State University men’s basketball team continued to protect home court on Saturday afternoon, defeating Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) opponent Jackson State 78-66 on Willis Reed Court at the Frederick C. Hobdy Assembly Center.
The victory not only marked the Tigers’ seventh consecutive victory at home, but it also improved GSU to 13-7 overall, 6-2 in the SWAC and gave the Tigers a share of second place in the conference standings.
Four GSU players scored in double-figures. Cameron Christon led the way with a game-high 17 points on 6-of-11 shooting, with eight rebounds, a lock and a steal. Version Cotton (13), Shawdarius Cowart (10) and Quinitn Murrell (10) were the other Tigers to score at least 10 points.
Jourdan Smith also made an impact on the contest, narrowly missing a double-double, snagging 10 rebounds and scoring nine points.
Nearly midway through the first half, Grambling State and Jackson State (6-15, 5-3) were tied 13-13. Christon’s free throw with 11:57 to go in the half gave the Tigers a lead they wouldn’t relinquish for the remainder of the contest. GSU led 38-28 at the half.
JSU tried to make things interesting in the second half, but the closest it could get to Grambling State was 52-47 at the 14:15 mark. GSU wore Jackson State down over the final 10 minutes of the game, easily disposing of them.
Grambling State made the most of its offensive rebounds and second-chance opportunities, out-scoring JSU 21-8 in second-chance points.
Both teams shot relatively well from the field, with both programs connecting on over 45 percent of its field goal attempts. GSU went 28-of-58 (48.3 percent) while Jackson State knocked down 25-of-54 attempts (46.3 percent).
Zeke Cook and Chase Adams both contributed 13 points for JSU.
Grambling hosts Alcorn State tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the Fredrick C. Hobdy Assembly Center.
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Jackson State 67, Lady Tigers 52
It was a battle between the Tigers at the Fredrick C. Howdy Assembly Center in a highly anticipated match-up featuring the Grambling State women’s basketball team and the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) defending champions, Jackson State. GSU fell to JSU 67-52.
The duo of Phylicia Allen and Leah Morrow combined to score 27 points
Allen paced GSU (5-14 overall, 4-4 SWAC) with a game-high 14 points on 4-of-11 shooting from the field, while Morrow scored 13 points going 5-for-11.
JSU (10-8, 7-1) opened the contest with a 4-2 lead, but GSU inched in front 5-4 thanks to a 3-pointer by Leah Morrow. With JSU lead 14-9, Grambling State’s Tiana Gardner nailed three in the waning seconds on the quarter, trimming the deficit dow to two, 14-12, heading into the second period.
Jackson State maintained control in the second quarter building a 24-19 lead with 4:58 to go until the half. Jazmyne Jackson scored the final bucket of the half for GSU, as the Lady Tigers found themselves down 33-27 at the half.
Trailing 33-29 midway through the third quarter, two free throws by Miracle Saxon, followed by a layup from Morrow, tied the game 33-33 with a little under 5 minutes remaining in the frame. However, JSU would go on a 12-2 run and begin pulling away from GSU, Jackson State led 47-39 at the end of the quarter,
The deficit continued to grew as Grambling State ran out of steam in the fourth period, as the Lady Tigers couldn’t regain its footing.
The Lady Tigers host Alcorn State tonight at 5 p.m. at the Fredrick C. Hobdy Assembly Center.
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Track and Field
CJ Guidry’s run in the 200 meter dash highlighted the final day of performances at the Texas Tech Open for the Grambling State University track & field team on Saturday afternoon.
Guidry posted one of the fastest 200 meter times in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) blazing the track with a time of 21.78 in just his second meet with the Tigers.
In the women’s high jump, Jamie Richardson turned in a seventh place finish with a mark of 1.65m.
The Grambling State team of Amari Wrightsill, Ivory Davis, Sharon Laibich and Dayna Sterling placed 17th in the women’s 4x400m relay, clocking in at 3:54.91. On the men’s side, GSU’s lineup of Dakar Betts, Malachi Johnosn, Michiah Myles and CJ Ekeanyanwu finished 20th with a time of 3:28.53
Mercy Kwambai (12:05.77), Ruth Tibet (12:45.52) and Lillian Thou (12:54.04) coveted in the women’s 3000m, placing 15th, 16th and 17th.
