GRAMBLING, La. | The Grambling State University men's basketball team will open Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) play on Saturday at Alabama State and will conclude the season-opening conference road swing on Monday with a trip to Huntsville, Ala. to take on Alabama A&M.
 
Tip-off for Saturday's game at the Dunn-Oliver Acadome is set for 5:30 p.m. and on Monday, 7:30 p.m. from the T.M. Elmore Gymnasium.
 
Grambling State (6-7) is coming off a loss on Dec. 22 against No. 16 Wisconsin. The Tigers have won two out of their last three games and are looking to defend their SWAC regular season crown.
 
Alabama State (2-9) is riding a seven-game losing streak and have not won a game since Nov. 14 (Birmingham Southern). The Hornets enter off a 70-69 loss to Campbell on Dec. 22.
 
Alabama A&M (1-13), which will play host to Jackson State on Saturday, has dropped its last two games after defeating Tulane on Dec. 22. The Bulldogs fell to Hawaii, 71-63, and Pepperdine, 100-64, to conclude 2018.
 
ABOUT ALABAMA STATE
> Alabama State is averaging 65.0 points per game, while its opponents are averaging 75.4 points.
> The Hornets are shooting 40.4 percent (253-of-626) from the field and 60.9 percent (126-of-207) from the foul line.
> Jacoby Ross is leading Alabama State's offense at 14.7 points and 2.6 assists per game, followed by Reginald Gee at 14.7 points and 3.3 rebounds per game.
 
ABOUT ALABAMA A&M
> Alabama A&M is averaging 60.2 points per game, while its opponents are averaging 78.4 points.
> The Bulldogs are shooting 39.0 percent (316-of-811) from the field and 59.1 percent (120-of-203) from the foul line.
> Jalen Reeder is leading Alabama A&M's offense at 10.9 points and 3.5 rebounds per game, followed by Arthur Johnson at 9.5 points and 3.1 boards per game.
 
LAST TIME OUT
> Grambling State is coming off a 84-53 loss to No. 16 Wisconsin
> Dallas Polk-Hilliard posted a double-double of 17 points and 10 rebounds, while Lasani Johnson added 14 points
> The Tigers shot 38.0 percent (19-of-50) from the floor and 46.7 percent (7-of-15) from the free-throw line
 
NOTABLES
> Dallas Polk-Hilliard is seventh in the SWAC in rebounding at 6.1 and is eighth in scoring at 13.4 points per game
> Grambling State is second in offense at 71.0 points per game and is tied in the conference in defense at 71.1 points
> The Tigers lead the SWAC in field goal percentage (44.3) and field goal defense (40.3)
 
 
NOTABLE PERFORMANCES
> Grambling State surpassed the 100-point plateau in a 105-68 victory over Jarvis Christian to begin the season
> The Tigers defeated Niagara on Nov. 23 in the Fort Myers Tip-Off Classic
> Grambling State won back-to-back games over Portland and Southeastern Louisiana
> Lasani Johnson scored a career-high 30 points, including seven 3-pointers, in a win over Centenary
> Dallas Polk-Hilliard leads the team in double-doubles with five
 
AWARDS AND ACCOLADES
> Dallas Polk-Hilliard earned back-to-back College Sports Madness SWAC Player of the Year honors Dec. 17 and Dec. 23
 
PRESEASON POLL
> Grambling State was predicted to win to repeat as the SWAC regular season champion
 
GRAMBLING STATE BASKETBALL HISTORY
> Grambling State won its first SWAC regular season championship in 30 years last year
> Charles "Charlie Red) Hardnett and Willis Reed are notable alums of the basketball program
 
UP NEXT
Grambling State has its SWAC home opener on Saturday, Jan. 12 against rival Southern. Tip-off against the Jaguars is set for 5 p.m. The Tigers conclude the short two-game home stand on Monday, Jan. 14 against Alcorn State.
 
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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