Box Score GRAMBLING – The Grambling State University men's basketball team upset the defending SWAC champions Alabama State University Hornets in an exciting overtime game, 84-81 – the second time in three days GSU snatched victory in OT.
 
Men's head basketball coach Shawn Walker was pleased and excited with  win over Alabama A&M University Saturday (January 2), largely because it was the team's first Division I victory after 37 losses.  But Monday's victory was sweet because it's the first time in an even longer time that GSU men have had two consecutive victories to open conference play.
 
"This team's resiliency is impressive, in both games we've been down 16-18 points," Walker said after the game at the Fredrick C. Hobdy Assembly Center. "We got a couple of good shots off that changed the environment. I'm really proud of these guys. They're learning how to win. That's important when trying to revitalize a program."
 
Earlier in the evening, the Lady Tigers beat the Lady Hornets a bit easier with a 20-point victory in regulation, 89-69.
 
"I have a special group of young ladies. Success doesn't happen overnight. We've been working together for a long time," women's head coach Nadine Domond said after the game. "I'm super proud of my young ladies. They all are crucial to what we are trying to do, on rebuilding the legacy."
 
The Lady Tigers got off to a great start , leaving the Hornets scoreless for nearly three minutes in the first quarter as the Hornets picked up 5 team fouls. In the beginning it was freshman Shakyla Hill putting up 7 of 9 of the team's points before midway in the first quarter. The Hornets caught up with the Tigers, tying the score at 21 at the end of the first quarter.
 
While in the beginning of the second quarter both teams toggled between keeping the score tied at two different occasions, it was Lady Tiger Jazmin Boyd who was able to give her team a lead in addition to scoring 17 points by halftime.
 
As soon as she checked in off the bench, Hill began to score more points, working with Boyd to create a strong 60-43 lead in the third quarter.
 
The Hornets were unable to keep up with Domond's squad as freshmen Hill and Boyd – GSU roommates and self-described besties -- worked hand in hand scoring for the Lady Tigers. Boyd finished the game with 27 points, Hill with 21 and each had  rebounds. John'ea Thompson added 19 points.
 
"It feels good to see our hard work pay off," said Hill.
 
The GSU men won, but it wasn't as easy. It was a tough start as the Hornets came off the bench shooting 3-point shots and a few jumpers, giving them a 24-14 lead over the Tigers in the first part of the first half. Neither teams stayed out of foul trouble, allowing the opponents to shoot. By halftime the Tigers and the Hornets had 10 team fouls apiece. The Tigers were down 43-29.
 
Nigel Ribeiro, Deonte Hearns and Mark Gray put in overtime to close the lead the Hornets had over the Tigers during midway of the second half, coming very close with a 60-62 score.
 
With two minutes remaining in the game, the Tigers were able to gain their first lead 70-69 of the night from a three point basket by Remond Brown, exciting the crowd and themselves.
 
The game went into overtime, the second time already this conference season for the Tigers, with the score tied at 71. Many of the Tigers points came from personal and team fouls called on the Hornets, with many of them fouling out. A 3-point shot by Ribeiro with 45.3 seconds on the clock gave the Tigers their second lead of the night.
 
The Hornets were unable to gain another lead for the night as the Tigers closed the game with a final score of 84-81.
 
Brown finished the game with 23 points and 5 rebounds,  Hearns had 14 points and 14 rebounds, Ribeiro added 14 points and 5 rebounds and Mark Gray put up 14 points and pulled down 4 rebounds.
 
"It was our focus, our mentality not to lose anymore," said Brown of the two consecutive season and conference wins.
 
The Tigers will play Jarvis Christian College at 6 p.m.  Wednesday (January 6) then both teams travel to Baton Rouge to play Southern University on Saturday (January 9). The first game begins at 3 p.m.


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