From Grambling State Sports Information:
GRAMBLING, La. | The Grambling State University men’s basketball team will look to keep its win streak alive with a pair of Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) games at the Fredrick C. Hobdy Assembly Center.
Tip-off against Texas Southern (High School Day) is set for 5 p.m., while Monday’s tilt against Prairie View A&M (Greek Night) is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
Grambling State (13-11 overall, 7-4 SWAC), which currently sits tied for third with Alabama State is behind Prairie View A&M and Texas Southern in the SWAC standings, enters this weekend on a season-best four-game winning streak. Grambling State is coming off season sweeps of Southern and Alcorn State. GSU will be seeking a season sweep of Texas Southern and a season split with Prairie View A&M.
Texas Southern (12-11, 7-3) is riding a four-game winning streak, including a 95-90 victory over Prairie View A&M on Feb. 9, which snapped the Panthers’ SWAC unbeaten streak.
Prairie View A&M (11-12, 9-1) saw its nine-game SWAC win streak snapped on Feb. 9 in a 95-90 loss to Texas Southern. The Panthers will visit Jackson State on Saturday, before travelling to Grambling State.
ABOUT TEXAS SOUTHERN
> Texas Southern is averaging 78.4 points per game, while its opponents are averaging 79.3 points
> TSU is shooting 43.4 percent from the field and 67.0 percent from the foul line
> Jeremy Combs, the SWAC Player of the Week, paces the Texas Southern offense at 15.0 points and 8.3 rebounds per game, followed by Trayvon Reed at 13.1 points and 8.5 boards per game
ABOUT PRAIRIE VIEW A&M
> Prairie View A&M is averaging 72.4 points per game, while its opponents are averaging 75.2 points
> The Panthers are shooting 43.3 percent from the field and 66.1 percent from the foul line
> Gary Blackston paces the Prairie View A&M offense at 15.3 points and 7.8 rebounds per game, followed by Devonte Patterson at 12.2 points and 4.3 boards game
LAST TIME OUT
> Grambling State is coming off a 65-53 victory over Alcorn State on Monday
> Ivy Smith, Jr. led three GSU players in double figures with 16 points. Devante Jackson and Dallas Polk-Hilliard registered 12 and 10 points, respectively
> The Tigers shot 43.8 percent from the floor and 82.6 percent from the free-throw line
NOTABLES
> Ivy Smith leads the SWAC in assists per game, free-throws attempted, free-throws made and total assists
> Dallas Polk-Hilliard is second in the conference in double-doubles with six
> The Tigers lead the SWAC in 11 different categories, including total rebounds and total rebounds per game
NOTABLE PERFORMANCES
> Grambling State surpassed the 100-point plateau in a 105-68 victory over Jarvis Christian to begin the season
> The Tigers defeated Niagara on Nov. 23 in the Fort Myers Tip-Off Classic
> Grambling State won back-to-back games over Portland and Southeastern Louisiana
> Ivy Smith, Jr. poured in 24 points, including the game-winner, in an 88-87 overtime win over Texas Southern on Jan. 19
PRESEASON POLL
> Grambling State was predicted to win to repeat as the SWAC regular season champion
GRAMBLING STATE BASKETBALL HISTORY
> Grambling State won its first SWAC regular season championship in 30 years last year
> Charles “Charlie Red) Hardnett and Willis Reed are notable alums of the basketball program
UP NEXT
Grambling State plays host to Texas Southern on Saturday and Prairie View A&M on Monday. GSU will face Jackson State on Feb. 23.
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