GRAMBLING, Louisiana | Trailing by seven at halftime, Alabama State took their first lead of the second half with under six minutes to play and ran past Grambling State 74-66 in Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) play Wednesday night at the Fredrick C. Hobdy Assembly Center.Branden Johnson led Alabama State (1-13, 1-1 SWAC) with his second double-double of the season with 13 points and 10 rebounds, including six offensive rebounds. Jacoby Ross led Alabama State with 14 points, while Reginald Gee added 11 and Ed Jones 10 in the win.
The Hornets shot 34.3 (23-of-67) percent from the floor and 25.0 (7-of-28) percent from beyond the arc. They also shot 70 (21-of-30) percent from the free throw line.
Alabama State trailed for over 20 minutes and as last as 6:22 to play in the game until a lay-up by Ross tied the game at 57-all with 5:05 remaining. The Hornets took their first lead of the half when Johnson grabbed an offensive rebound and put the ball back up with 4:33 to play for a 59-57 lead.
The lead was pushed to four on a lay-up by Jones with 3:53 to play, and after Grambling State pulled to within a pair of 3:39 to play, Ross extended the lead to six at 66-60 with 2:18 to play. Grambling State could only get as close as four as Gee put the lead to 68-62 on a pair of free throws with 1:57 to play. Another pair of free throws from Tobi Ewuosho with 1:15 to play extended the lead to 70-62 that proved too much for the Tigers to overcome.
BOX SCORE
Ivy Smith, Jr. led Grambling State (4-11, 0-2 SWAC) with 17 points and five rebounds, also adding four steals and three assists. Anthony Gaston added 13 and Axel Mpoyo added 13.
The Tigers shot 39.6 (21-of-53) percent from the floor and 20 (3-of-15) percent from beyond the arc, and 60 (21-of-35) percent from the free throw line, while turning the ball over 19 times.
Alabama State won the rebounding battle 46-44.
The Hornets return to action Saturday against Mississippi Valley State at 5 pm, returning to the Dunn-Oliver Acadome. The game will be carried by the Hornet Sports Network, with pregame starting 15 minutes prior to the game. It will be the first of three consecutive home games, and it is Faculty/Staff Appreciation Night at the 'Dome.
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