GRAMBLING, La. | Following a week off, the Grambling State University men's basketball team will look to keep the streak alive in Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) play as they continue on the road in Pine Bluff, Ark. to take on Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Saturday, then will travel to Itta Bena, Miss. in a contest against Mississippi Valley State University on Monday. Tipoff for Saturday's game in K.L. Johnson Complex is set for 7 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Monday in the Harrison Complex.
 
Grambling State (8-12 overall, 4-3 SWAC) started conference play with three consecutive losses, but has since put together four straight wins, including a 79-78 buzzer beater over Texas Southern and a 72-45 upset to previously unbeaten Jackson State.
 
Arkansas-Pine Bluff (7-14, 7-0) is the last remaining unbeaten team in the conference, while Mississippi Valley (0-20, 0-7) is winless in conference play.
 
ABOUT ARKANSAS PINE-BLUFF

• The Golden Lions are riding a seven-game winning streak after defeating Texas Southern, 74-72, on Monday and Prairie View A&M, 72-66 on last Saturday.
• Arkansas-Pine Bluff is averaging 64.6 points per game, while its opponents are averaging 74.2 points. The team is shooting 42.3 percent (448-of-1059) from the floor and 69.0 percent (260-of-377) from the foul line.
• Martaveous McKnight is leading Arkansas-Pine Bluff's offense in double digits at 19.5 points and 3.8 rebounds per game, while Charles Jackson is averaging 9.7 points and 2.9 boards per game.

 
ABOUT MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE

• The Delta Devils have not been able to win a contest or conference game this year.
• Mississippi Valley State is averaging 59.8 points per game, while its opponents are averaging 79.4 points. The team is shooting 36.0 percent (439-of-1218) from the floor and 67.0 percent (217-of-324) from the charity stripe.
• Dante Scott leads Mississippi Valley State in double digits at 13.1 points and 4.7 rebounds per gam,e followed by Jordan Evans at 12.3 points and 2.1 boards per game.

 
LAST TIME OUT

• Grambling State is coming off a 72-45 win to Jackson State on last Saturday.
• Ivy Smith, Jr. paced five Grambling State players in double figures, just three assists shy of a triple-double. Smith tallied 16 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists. Anthony Gaston contributed 16 points, seven boards, two assists and one steal. Axel Mpoyo registered 13 points and five rebounds, Shirmane Thomas recorded 12 points, nine rebounds, four assists and two steals and Diontae Jones chipped in with 10 points off the bench.
• Grambling State shot 50.9 percent (29-of-57) from the field and 66.7 percent (8-of-12) from the free-throw line.

NOTABLES

• Grambling State is averaging 70.8 points per game while its opponents are averaging 76.4 points. GSU is shooting 41.4 percent (494-of-1194) from the floor and 71.6 percent (330-of-461) from the charity stripe.
• Ivy Smith, Jr. leads GSU players in scoring at 14.5 points and 3.9 boards per game. Anthony Gaston is second in scoring at 10.4 points and 2.5 boards, while Shirmane Thomas is averaging 10.1 points and 4.5 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. 
• Shirmane Thomas scored 20 of his career-high 27 points in the first half in Grambling State's win over Texas Southern on Jan.15.

 
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.

 
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

 
UP NEXT

• Following the Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Mississippi Valley State contests, Grambling State will play host to Southern on Saturday, Feb. 3 (High School Day) and Alcorn State on Monday, Feb. 5.

 
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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