GRAMBLING, La. | The Grambling State University men's basketball team led by seven at the break, but couldn't seal the win as Alabama State picked up a 74-66 win in a Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) game on Wednesday night at the Fredrick C. Hobdy Assembly Center.
 
The Tigers (4-11, 0-2 overall), which fell to previously winless Alabama A&M on Monday afternoon, shot 39.6 percent from the floor, but was just 21-of-35 (60 percent) from the free-throw line.  Alabama State (1-13, 1-1) shot 48.3 percent in the second half and took advantage of a poor shooting performance by Grambling State to pick up its first win of the season.
 
Ivy Smith, Jr., led Grambling State with 17 points, five rebounds, four steals and three steals. Anthony Gaston tallied 14 points, on 6-of-8 shooting, with two rebounds and two steals, while Axel Mpoyo tallied 13 points, with nine coming at the foul line.
 
Jacoby Ross paced Alabama State with 14 points, while Branden Johnson recorded a double-double of 13 points and 10 boards. Reginald Gee poured in 11 points, six rebounds and two steals and Ed Jones registered 10 points and five boards.
 
Turning Point
Grambling State led 14-10 after a Diing Diing Wol layup with 10:42 left in the first half, but Alabama State used a 17-4 run over the next four minutes to take a 27-18 advantage after a Rodney Simeon 3-pointer with 6:29 remaining.
 
The Tigers closed out the half on a 22-6 run to take a 40-33 advantage into the break.
 
Grambling State's biggest lead of the second half came with 16:35 remaining as Smith scored on a free throw to give the Tigers a 44-37 advantage.
 
The Hornets slowly chipped away at the deficit and tied the game at 44 on a pair of free throws by Johnson with 14:36 left , but Grambling State was able to push the margin to 57-51 after a Gaston 3-pointer with 7:35 remaining. Alabama State took over from that point and outscored Grambling State 19-5 over the next six minutes to take a 70-62 advantage with 1:15 remaining.
 
The Tigers were able to cut the deficit to 70-64 with 1:06 left, but couldn't get any closer.
 
Inside the Numbers
* Grambling State shot 21-of-53 (39.6 percent) from the field and 21-of-35 (60 percent) from the free-throw line.
* Alabama State was 23-of-67 (34.3 percent) and 21-of-30 (70 percent) from the charity stripe.
* The Tigers tallied 46 rebounds, with 19 coming on the offensive glass.
* The Hornets finished with 44 rebounds, including 30 off the defensive glass.
* Grambling State registered 34 points in the paint, 32 bench points, 18 points off turnovers and nine second-chance points.
* Alabama State tallied 35 bench points, 30 points in the paint, 25 points off turnovers and 22 second-chance points.
* The score was tied five times and there were four lead changes.
* There were 54 fouls called between the two teams.
 
Up Next
Grambling State returns to action on Saturday, Jan. 6 against rival Southern. Tip-off from Baton Rouge, La., is set for 5:30 p.m.
 
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