Grambling State edges Arkansas-Pine Bluff 69-68

Jan 28, 2019, 05:35 am

PINE BLUFF, Ark. -- Ivy Smith Jr. scored 18 points, Shirmane Thomas got his second double-double of the season and Grambling State hung on Saturday night to snap Arkansas-Pine Bluff's seven-game winning streak with a 69-68 victory.

After four lead changes, Grambling State edged back on top late in the second half with a tip-in from Jason Perry-Murray that made it 59-57 with 6:32 remaining and hung on.

Thomas later got a key free throw with five seconds left to pad the lead at 69-65, just before UAPB's Joe'Randle Toliver sank a deep 3 to pull the Tigers back to within a point. Grambling State's Anthony Gaston was fouled and missed both free throws with two seconds to go but got the offensive rebound to cement the Tigers' fifth straight win.

Thomas finished with 13 points and 11 rebounds. Perry-Murray and Gaston added 10 points apiece for Grambling State (9-12, 5-3 Southwestern Athletic Conference).

The loss is UAPB's first in conference play this season but the Golden Lions remain in first place atop the SWAC standings.

Charles Jackson scored 14 for UAPB (7-15, 7-1), Travon Harper had 10 and Martaveous McKnight pulled down 10 rebounds.