By: Candice Dixson, Sports Information Graduate Assistant
GRAMBLING, La. | The Grambling State University men's basketball team has won three straight and will look to keep the streak alive in Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) play with a trip to Jackson, Miss., to take on Jackson State University on Saturday. Tipoff at the Lee E. Williams Athletic and Assembly Center is set for 5:30 p.m.
Grambling State (7-12 overall, 3-3 SWAC) started conference play with three consecutive losses, but has since put together three straight wins, including an 80-71 victory on last Saturday against Prairie View A&M and a 79-78 buzzer beater win over Texas Southern on Monday.
Jackson State (9-10, 6-0) has won six straight games and remains the only unbeaten team in conference play.
ABOUT JACKSON STATE
• Jackson State picked up an 85-80 overtime win over Texas Southern last Saturday and a 79-71 win over Prairie View A&M on Monday night.
• Jackson State is averaging 63.8 points per game, while its opponents are averaging 69.3 points. JSU is shooting 38.0 percent (432-of-1137) from the floor and 64.9 percent (200-of-308) from the free-throw line.
• Chace Franklin paces four of Jackson State's offense in double digits at 13.8 points and 3.8 boards per game, followed by Maurice Rivers with 13.1 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. Paris Collins is third on the team in scoring at 10.8 points and 5.6 rebounds, while Jeremiah Jefferson at 10.2 points and 2.0 boards per game.
LAST TIME OUT
• Grambling State is coming off a 79-78 win to Texas Southern on Monday.
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Jason Perry-Murray tipped in a missed shot by
Nigel Ribeiro with .03 of a second to give Grambling State the home victory.
•
Shirmane Thomas scored 20 of his career-high 27 points in the first half to lead Grambling State. Perry-Murray finished with a double-double of 12 points and 12 rebounds, while
Ivy Smith, Jr. added 10 points and four assists.
• Grambling State shot 43.7 percent (31-of-71) from the floor and 72.2 percent (13-of-18) from the free-throw line.
NOTABLES
• Grambling State is averaging 70.8 points, while opponents are averaging 78.1 points per game. GSU is shooting 40.9 percent (465-of-1137) from the floor and 71.7 percent (322-of-449) from the foul line.
•
Ivy Smith, Jr. leads GSU players in scoring at 14.4 points and 3.5 boards per game.
Anthony Gaston is second in scoring at 10.1 points and 2.2 boards, while
Shirmane Thomas is averaging 9.9 points and 4.3 rebounds per game.
NOTABLE PERFORMANCES
•
Anthony Gaston set career highs of points and rebounds against Prairie View A&M on Jan. 13. He poured in 30 points and grabbed seven boards along with four steals, two assists and one blocked shot.
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Shirmane Thomas scored 20 of his career-high 27 points in the first half in Grambling State's win over Texas Southern.
PRESEASON POLL
• GSU was 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.
AWARDS AND ACCOLADES
• Shirmane Thomas was selected SWAC Player of the Week by the conference on Jan. 16. Thomas averaged 21.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.0 steals and 0.5 blocks in wins over Prairie View A&M and Texas Southern.
• Anthony Gaston was named the SWAC College Sports Madness Player of the Week on Monday after his 30-point performance against Prairie View A&M.
SCHEDULE NOTES
• Grambling State played just one game (Tougaloo) at home prior to opening conference play. GSU 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 Saturday's game, Grambling State will take a week off before visiting Pine Bluff, Ark., on Saturday, Jan. 27 to take on Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
Follow Grambling State Athletics
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