Jan. 26, 2008

Final Stats

JACKSON, Miss.- The Tigers of Jackson State University could not find an answer, as they fall to the Grambling State Tigers, 78-69. With the loss JSU fell to 4-3 in the conference as Grambling picked up their second conference win, improving to 2-5.

Getting off to a slow start, the JSU Tigers fell behind early 8-6 to GSU in the first three minutes of acton.

With 15:41 remaining in the first half Grambling State led 20-12. The G-Men then went on a 9-4 run to extend their lead 29-16 with 6:15 left in the first half. JSU, who couldn't seem to find an answer and continued to struggle as the Grambling Tigers increased their advantage to 34-20 with 3:22 left in first half action.

Freshman guard Jerome Davis came in hot off the bench as he hit a three pointer and a two to cut into the Grambling lead 42-27 with 1:00 remaining before the half. Grambling scored a at the buzzer to go into the half with a 44-29 lead.

GSU's Anthony Williams led all scorers in the half with 12 points. Darrion Griffin had 11 points for the JSU Tigers.

JSU came out shooting better to open the second half. The Grambling GSU's George Akpele scored a pair of buckets in the paint to extend the G-Men lead to 55-37 with 14:20 left in the game. Garrison Johnson made a bigthree point bucket with 13:45 to cut the score to 55-40.

JSU went on a 5-0 run with 8:19 remaining to cut into the GSU lead. Grambling took advantage of JSU foul trouble Grambling to extends the lead to 68-56 with 5:24 left in the game. Grant Maxey, JSU's leading scorer for the season, fouled out with 5:01 remaining. He finished with five points. A fast break lay-up by Darrion Griffin cut the lead to 70-58.

Two free throws by Catraiva Givens and Jeremy Caldwell with less than four minutes left in the game brought the Tigers within eight points, making the score 70-62. Two quick fouls by the Tigers of JSU gave the Grambling Tigers four unanswered points, before Griffin made a lay-up to keep JSU within nine points with two minutes left in the game.

Late fouls by JSU sent the Grambling Tigers to the line for the final minute as GSU escaped with its second win of the season.

Leading all scorers, Anthony Williams had 27 points for GSU. Griffin scored a team-high 21 points and six rebounds for Jackson State. Johnson finished with 13 points ad four boards and Caldwell added 13 points and five rebounds.

Next the Tigers prepare to travel to Itta Bena on Saturday, February 2, to face the Mississippi Valley State University Devils. Tip off is set for 7:30 pm