GRAMBLING, La. | The Grambling State University men's basketball team will look to get into the win column in Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) play on Saturday as the Tigers play host to Arkansas-Pine Bluff and complete the weekend homestand on Monday in an ESPNU game against Mississippi Valley State.
 
Tip-off for Saturday's game is set for 5 p.m., while the ESPNU televised game on Monday is set for 8:05 p.m. Both games will be played at the Fredrick C. Hobdy Assembly Center as Saturday's tilt is Military Appreciation Day, while on Monday, 156 student-athletes will be honored during halftime in an Athletics Directors Honor Roll presentation.
 
Grambling State (9-11 overall, 3-4 SWAC) comes into Saturday's game having dropped its last two games. The Tigers enter off a 65-63 loss to Jackson State on Jan. 26 and will be seeking their first win since a 88-87 overtime win over Texas Southern on Jan. 19.
 
Arkansas-Pine Bluff (6-14, 4-3) has dropped three out of its last four games, including a 79-63 home loss to Prairie View A&M on Monday night. The Golden Lions trailed at the break, 43-24, and could not recover in the second half. Martaveous McKnight, the SWAC Preseason Player of the Year, was held to 1-of-9 shooting from the floor against the Panthers.
 
Mississippi Valley State (3-18, 1-6) will visit Jackson State on Saturday before making the trip to Grambling State on Monday for the ESPNU contest. The Delta Devils are riding a five-game losing streak, with their last win coming on Jan. 12, a 72-63 victory over Alabama A&M.
 
ABOUT ARKANSAS-PINE BLUFF
> Arkansas-Pine Bluff is averaging 64.3 points per game, while its opponents are averaging 73.7 points.
> The Golden Lions are shooting 41.2 percent (420-of-1,019) from the field and 66.2 percent (257-of-388) from the foul line.
> Martaveous McKnight paces the UAPB offense at 22.6 points and 4.9 rebounds per game, followed by Shaun Doss at 10.6 points and 3.9 boards per game.
 
ABOUT MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE
> Mississippi Valley State is averaging 63.9 points per game, while its opponents are averaging 80.2 points.
> The Delta Devils are shooting 38.0 percent (482-of-1,272) from the field and 65.0 percent (269-of-414) from the foul line.
> Gregory Jones-Rollins paces the MVSU offense at 12.3 points and 3.4 rebounds per game, followed by Jordan Evans at 11.6 points and 1.9 boards per game.
 
LAST TIME OUT
> Grambling State is coming off a 65-63 home loss to Jackson State on Jan. 26
> Ivy Smith, Jr. scored 18 points and was the lone Tiger in double figures
> The Tigers shot 47.6 percent (20-of-42) from the floor and 65.4 percent (17-of-26) from the free-throw line
 
NOTABLES
> Ivy Smith leads the SWAC in assists per game, free-throws attempted, free-throws made and total assists
> Dallas Polk-Hilliard is second in the conference in double-doubles with six
> The Tigers lead the SWAC in 11 different categories, including total rebounds and total rebounds per game
 
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
> Ivy Smith, Jr. poured in 24 points, including the game-winner, in an 88-87 overtime win over Texas Southern on Jan. 19
 
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 will play host to Mississippi Valley State on Monday in an ESPNU game, before taking to the road to visit Southern (Feb. 9) and Alcorn State (Feb. 11).
 
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.
 

Related Videos

Now Playing:

• Play Video