Courtesy of GSU Athletic Communications
The Grambling State University men’s basketball team found its way back into the win column after defeating Mississippi Valley State 65-54 on Saturday night at the R.W. Harrison HPER Complex.
GSU (5-14 overall, 2-4 SWAC) trailed at halftime, but breezed past MVSU (2-18, 0-7) with an early second half surge.
The Tigers got a career-high 12-point effort out of junior guard Emareyon McDonald, who entered the game off the bench. Grambling State’s reserves played a pivotal role in the victory, accounting 31 points.
Antwan Burnett also added 12 points for GSU, while Mikale Stevenson contributed 11.
With GSU trailing 16-14 with 6:17 remaining in the first period, McDonald knocked down a deep 3-point from the wing to give the Tigers a 17-16 lead.
MVSU responded with an 8-0 run, highlighted by a pair of threes by Arthur Tate, to grab a 24-17 lead 3:04 on the clock. Tate scored 16 of his 21 points in the opening period.
Flippin scored GSU’s next six points during a 6-1 spurt to make it a 25-23 game with 1:11 until halftime. The Delta Devils led 27-23 at the break.
Grambling State came out of the locker room on fire, opening the half on an 18-4 run to grab its first double-double digit lead of the contest, 41-31, with 12:12 left. Another 3-point by McDonald gave the Tigers their largest lead of night, 51-34, with 9:45 to play.
Mississippi Valley State battled its way back into the game, however, whittling GSU advantage down to 54-50 with 2:32 remaining.
Chilaydrien Newton splashed a clutch three 2:13 on the clock to give the Tigers a bit more breathing room, making the score 57-50.
The Tigers didn’t allow MVSU to threaten them the rest of the way as GSU clinched the 65-54 win.
