GRAMBLING, La. | The Grambling State University men's basketball team is searching for its first Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) win as the Tigers take to the road for a pair of games against rival Southern and Alcorn State.
 
Grambling State (4-11 overall, 0-2 SWAC) opened SWAC play with a 71-64 loss to Alabama A&M and fell to Alabama State, 74-66. The Tigers will look to rebound with a 5 p.m. tip-off against Southern on Saturday and a 7:30 p.m. tip-off against Alcorn State on Monday.
 
Southern comes into Saturday's contest seeking its first SWAC win (4-11, 0-2). Alcorn State (4-11, 0-2) will play host to Jackson State on Saturday, before Grambling State comes to town on Monday.
 
ABOUT SOUTHERN
• The Jaguars are coming off a pair of SWAC losses, falling 78-66 to Texas Southern (Jan. 1) and 78-74 to Prairie View A&M (Jan. 3).
 
• Southern is averaging 69.2 points per game, while its opponents are averaging 77.9 points. The Jaguars are shooting 39.2 percent (370-of-943) from the floor and 67.0 percent (203-of-303) from the free-throw line.
 
• Jared Sam paces the Southern offense at 14.8 points and 7.5 boards per game. Sidney Umude has played just five games, but is second on the team in scoring at 13.2 points and 6.4 rebounds.
 
ABOUT ALCORN STATE
• The Braves are coming into the game off three straight losses, including a pair of SWAC games. Alcorn State fell, 76-64 (Jan. 1) and Texas Southern, 85-70 (Jan. 3).
 
• Alcorn State is averaging 69.7 points per game, while its opponents are averaging 79.4 points. The Braves are shooting 42.3 percent (379-of-896) from the floor and 66.5 percent (165-of-248) from the charity stripe.
 
• A.J. Mosley leads the Alcorn State offense at 12.9 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. Reginal Johnson and Dante Sterling are averaging 12.3 and 10.8 points, respectively.
 
LAST TIME OUT
• Grambling State is coming off a 74-66 loss to Alabama State on Wednesday.
 
• The Tigers led by seven, 40-33, at the break, but couldn't slow down the Hornets in the second half and were out-scored, 41-26, in falling to Alabama State.
• Grambling State shot 21-of-53 (39.6 percent) from the field and 21-of-35 (60 percent) from the free-throw line.
 
NOTABLES
• Grambling State is averaging 69.7 points, while opponents are averaging 79.5 points per game. The Tigers are shooting 40.8 percent (361-of-885) from the floor and 73.0 percent (252-of-345) from the foul line.
 
• Ivy Smith, Jr., leads the team in scoring at 15.6 points and 3.7 boards per game.
 
• Axel Mpoyo is second on the team in scoring at 10.2 points and 5.9 rebounds, while Diontae Jones is averaging 9.5 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 road swing, the Tigers return home for two games, starting on Saturday, Jan. 13 against Prairie View A&M. Grambling State concludes the two-game homestand on Monday, Jan. 15 against Texas Southern. That contest will be broadcasted live on the SWAC Digital Network.
 
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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