GRAMBLING, La. | The Grambling State University men's basketball team concluded a five-game road swing to end 2017 and the Tigers begin the new year with a pair of Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) games against Alabama A&M and Alabama State.
 
Grambling State (4-9 overall, 0-0 SWAC) opens SWAC play on Monday with a 2 p.m. tip-off against Alabama A&M. The Tigers end the short two-game homestand on Wednesday, with a 7:30 p.m. tip-off against Alabama State.
 
Alabama A&M comes into Monday's contest seeking its first win (0-13 overall, 0-0 SWAC). Alabama State will visit Jackson State on Monday before making the trip to Grambling, La., on Wednesday. The Hornets are 0-12 this season and 0-0 in SWAC action.
 
ABOUT ALABAMA A&M
• The Bulldogs are coming off an 89-49 loss on Dec. 23 at Georgetown.
 
• Alabama A&M is averaging 58.3 points per game, while its opponents are averaging 83.7 points. The Bulldogs are shooting 38.2 percent (270-of-807) from the floor and 64.6 percent (137-of-212) from the free-throw line.
 
• De'Ederick Petty paces the Alabama A&M offense at 10.8 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game. Arthur Johnson is averaging 10.1 points and 5.2 boards per contest.
 
ABOUT ALABAMA STATE
• The Hornets are coming off a pair of losses at the New Orleans Classic as Alabama State fell to Louisiana Tech, 74-62 (Dec. 21) and Liberty, 87-70 (Dec. 22).
 
• Alabama State is averaging 64.1 points per game, while its opponents are averaging 86.4 points. The Hornets are shooting 38.1 percent (269-of-706) from the floor and 69.7 percent (145-of-208) from the charity stripe.
 
• Reginald Gee leads the Alabama State offense at 13.3 points and 3.8 rebounds per game. Jacoby Ross is second on the team in scoring at 10.1 points per game.
 
LAST TIME OUT
• Grambling State is coming off a 93-63 loss to Seattle University on Thursday.
 
• The Tigers fell behind early and could never recover. Seattle used a 26-10 run over the final 13 minutes of the first half to take a 46-19 advantage into the break.
• Grambling State 36.8 percent (21-of-27) shooting and 73.1 percent (19-of-26) from the free-throw line.
 
NOTABLES
• Sophomore Guard Ivy Smith, Jr., paced the Tigers in the loss to Seattle with 19 points, 11 coming in the first half. Smith ranks 36th nationally (first in the SWAC) in assists per game. Also, he ranks 13th nationally (first in the SWAC) in free throws made, while 25th nationally in free throw attempts.
 
• Ivy Smith, Jr., leads the team in scoring at 15.5 points and 3.5 boards per game.
 
• Diontae Jones is second on the team in scoring at 11.2 points, while Axel Mpoyo is averaging 10.6 points.
  
NOTABLE PERFORMANCES
• Ivy Smith, Jr., set career highs of points and rebounds against Touagloo on Dec. 4. He poured in 31 points and grabbed 13 rebounds. He also set a career high in assists, with eight, against Iowa on Nov. 16.
  
PRESEASON POLL
• The Tigers were predicted to finish seventh in the preseason coaches' poll as voted on by conference head coaches and sports information directors. Grambling State did not have a player selected to the preseason All-SWAC first and second teams.
 
SCHEDULE NOTES
• Grambling State played just one game (Tougaloo) at home prior to opening conference play. The Tigers will play nine SWAC games at the Fredrick C. Hobdy Assembly Center.
  
GRAMBLING STATE BASKETBALL HISTORY
• Grambling State defeated Prairie View A&M last year in the SWAC Quarterfinals, but fell to Texas Southern, 62-57, in the SWAC Semifinals.
   
UP NEXT
• After the two-game SWAC homestand, Grambling State visits Southern (Jan. 6) and Alcorn State (Jan.8).
 
Follow Grambling State Athletics
For complete coverage of Grambling State athletics, please follow the Tigers on social media at @GSU_Tigers (Twitter), /gramblingstateathletics (Facebook), @gramblingathletics01 (Instagram) or visit the official home of Grambling State Athletics at gsutigers.com.
 

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