HOUSTON, Texas (Men's Basketball) – Coach Shawn Walker and the Grambling State University men's basketball team drew the fifth seed in the Southwestern Athletic Conference Basketball Tournament and traveled to Prairie View A&M University. The Tigers came ready to play and swiftly defeated the Panthers, 81-77.

The win moves Grambling to the semi-finals and earns the team a 16-16 record. Prairie View is eliminated from tournament play and ends their season with a 13-20 record.

In the first half of the game, GSU traded baskets with PVAMU and took seven point lead with 4:49 left. A monster dunk by Ervin Mitchell to make the score 31-24 lifted the Tigers and started a scoring streak. The half closed with a lay-up from Drake Wilks to lead by four at half time, 39-35.

For the first three minutes of the second half, GSU led by as many as eight points. Just when the Tigers start to build momentum, the Panthers rallied back to within one. At the 15:20 mark, Prairie View's Ja'Donta Blakely knotted the game at 52. Grambling State traded points but was able to keep the Panthers at bay.  

Mitchell was the leader for the Tigers with 24 points. Remond Brown contributed 16 points and seven rebounds. The leading rebounder for Grambling was All-SWAC First Team pick Avery Ubga with eight boards.

GSU was 51 percent from the field, and 80 percent from the free throw line.

Tevin Bellinger and Troy Thompson scored 18 points in the loss. Shay'rone Jett added 14 points and Zachary Hamilton contributed 12 points and a team-high six rebounds. Bellinger was the assist leader with six.

???????PVAMU was 43.6 percent from the field, 48.3 percent from three point range, and 71.4 percent from the stripe.

???????Grambling moves on to the SWAC basketball tournament semi-finals. The Tigers will face Texas Southern University on Friday, March 10 at 2:30 p.m. in Houston, Texas at the Toyota Center.