PINE BLUFF, Ark. -- Grambling State overcame an early deficit as the Tigers roared back in the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship race as they took a 27-20 road win at Arkansas-Pine Bluff Saturday in Southwestern Athletic Conference at Golden Lions Stadium.

The win evened Grambling's record at 4-4 over and put the Tigers in the thick of the SWAC's Western Division race at 3-3. Prairie View A&M leads the SWAC West after losing Saturday at Jackson State while UAPB is also 3-3

"Give this whole team credit," GSU coach Doug Williams said following the contest. "The offense struggled but never gave up and finally got things moving for the comeback while the defense did the things it needed to do to help us get this win.

"And this was a big win in an emotional game and puts us right back in the SWAC race."

UAPB had a chance to pull off the late win as the Golden Lions trailed 21-20 with just over two minutes remaining before Grambling's Edward Patterson picked off a Ben Anderson pass, going up high to snag it before returning it for the score.

GSU tried to put Pine Bluff away from there as the Tigers went for the two-point conversion, leaving the Golden Lions within striking distance at 27-20 with 2:25 remaining.

UAPB took advantage of GSU miscues on the ensuing drive - an offsides penalty providing a first down and a pass interference call -- to move down within the Grambling 20-yard line. The Golden Lions went for it on fourth down from the GSU 17, but the ball fell incomplete and the G-Men went into the victory formation for the final eight seconds, kneeling the ball down and walking away with their third consecutive victory on the season.

The Golden Lions shut down GSU standout receiver Mario Lewis, holding him to two catches on the night. But fellow senior receiver Damien Jefferson picked up the slack, hauling in six passes for 108 yards, including scoring strikes of 38 and 25 yards from quarterback Frank Rivers.

GSU managed to overcome a slew of turnovers as the Tigers lost three of four fumbles and also overcame a slow start as the Golden Lions jumped out to a quick 14-0 advantage before

GSU countered with three straight touchdowns to take a 21-17 lead at halftime.

Sophomore running back Dawrence Roberts added Grambling's other first half score on a two-yard scoring scamper and finished the contest with 73 yards and the TD on 23 carries.

Both teams held the ball for 30 minutes each with UAPB totaling 323 yards while GSU totlaed 275 yards on offense.

Rivers hit on 12-of-22 passes for 140 yards while D.J. Williams quarterbacked the Tigers in the fourth quarter and made good on one of four of his pass attempts -- a 10-yarder to Jefferson.