Grambling tops Jackson State for 11th straight SWAC win
GRAMBLING, La. -- Ivy Smith Jr. scored 17 points and Grambling State held off Jackson State 71-64 on Saturday night for its 11th straight Southwestern Athletic Conference victory.
Drake Wilks hit three 3-pointers and scored 11, Axel Mpoyo also scored 11 and Shirmane Thomas added 10 points and eight rebounds for Grambling (15-12, 11-3). Grambling, picked to finish seventh in the conference in a preseason coaches' poll, is in first place by one game with four to play.
Lemmie Howard topped Jackson State (10-17, 7-7) with 18 points. Paris Collins added 14 points and 11 rebounds and Darius Austin hit four 3s and scored 14 with seven rebounds.
Smith had nine points as Grambling grabbed a 38-28 halftime lead. Jordan Berry nailed a 3-pointer to pull Jackson State within 56-55 with 8:23 to play, but Mpoyo answered with a dunk, Thomas sank two free throws and Bobby Jackson turned a turnover into a layup to push Grambling's lead back to 62-55.
Game Information
- Referees:
- Glenn Tuitt
- Brian Hagedorn
- Thomas Northcutt
2023-24 Southwestern Athletic Conference Standings
Team | CONF | GB | OVR |
---|---|---|---|
Grambling | 14-4 | - | 21-15 |
Alcorn State | 13-5 | 1 | 14-18 |
Southern | 12-6 | 2 | 18-14 |
Texas Southern | 12-6 | 2 | 16-17 |
Bethune-Cookman | 11-7 | 3 | 17-17 |
Jackson State | 11-7 | 3 | 15-17 |
Alabama A&M | 9-9 | 5 | 12-23 |
Arkansas-Pine Bluff | 8-10 | 6 | 13-18 |
Alabama State | 8-10 | 6 | 13-19 |
Prairie View A&M | 5-13 | 9 | 10-21 |
Florida A&M | 4-14 | 10 | 6-23 |
Mississippi Valley State | 1-17 | 13 | 1-30 |