By T. Scott Boatright
INDIANAPOLIS —- Sometimes Goliath wins.
That was the ending of a historic season for the Grambling State Tigers Friday night as they fell to Purdue, the top seed in the Mid-East region of the Division I NCAA National Championship Tournament.
The G-Men stayed within striking range as long as they could — but stopping 7-4, 300-pound Purdue center Zach Edey proved impossible as the Boilermakers advanced to the second round of the NCAA tourney with a win over the G-Men.
But don;t be mistaken. Grambling came to play, keeping things tight early on before an eventual 78-50 loss to Purdue in NCAA Championship tourney action.
The Boilermakers opened the game with a 12-0 run and never looked back.
Purdue center Zach Edney — all 7-4 and 300 pounds of him — proved to be too much of a challenge despite a spirited battle by the Tigers.
Edey dominated the paint to the tune of 30 points and 21 rebounds along with three blocks and a pair of steals.
GSU knew entering the game the G-Men would have to throw everything, including the “kitchen sink;” at Purdue’s big man.
And this time, Goliath still won.
That overshadowed a remarkable performance from GSU’s Tra’Vion Moton, who poured in 23 points while pulling down four rebounds.
Kemtravious Dozier was a force trying to ignite the G-Men as he powered his way to the basket to score 16 points, but there was not catching up to Edey’s monstrous performance,
.Grambling stayed within striking distance in the first half, training 36-27 at intermission.
But the Boilermaker’s giant went into “beast mode in the second half” to play the beast shutting down= the Tigers’ dreams of a Cinderella tourney run.
Moton led the Tigers with 21 points while Dozier added 16.
