Courtesy of GSU Athletic Communications
The Grambling State University men’s basketball team got the season off to a strong start, earning a 92-42 victory over Southern University at New Orleans on Monday night on Willis Reed Court at the Fredrick C. Hobdy Assembly Center
Monday’s win marked the first time GSU won a game by at least 50 points since defeating North American 101-42 on Dec. 29, 2022.
GSU (1-0) had six different players score is double-figures with Antwan Burnett leading the way 19 points on 7-of-10 shooting, including going nearly perfect from behind the arc knocking down 4-of-5 from three-point range. He tacked on eight rebounds, two blocks, two steals and a steal.
Kintavious Dozier was also in midseason from, contributing 15 points, six boards, three assists and three steals. Another returner, Mikale Stevenson added 11 points, three assists, one block, one steal and one rebound.
Newcomers P.J. Edwards (12 points), Ernest Ross (11 points) and Chilaydrien Newton (11 points) were also efficient scoring.
While the GSU offense was on fire, connecting on 51.4 percent (37-of-72) from the field, including knocking down 12 threes, the Tigers were equally as smothering on defense, limiting SUNO to 25.4 percent shooting, forcing 18 turnovers and blocking eight shots.
The game was competitive within the first 10 minutes of action, with GSU holding a 10-9 lead with 11:21 to go in the first half. The Tigers used a 16-2 run to push its advantage to 26-11 with 5:35 until halftime.
Edwards knocked down a 3-pointer in the waning seconds of the half, giving GSU a 45-20 lead heading into the break, it’s largest lead of game to that point.
Grambling State continued to build on its advantage in the second half, eventually growing the lead to 52 points, 92-39, on layup by Newton with 57 seconds remaining in the game.
Jamal Gibson paced SUNO with a 14-point, 11 rebound double-double. He was the lone Knight to score in double figures.
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