GRAMBLING, La. | Axel Mpoyo recorded a double-double and posted a game-high 22 points as the Grambling State University men's basketball team rolled past Mississippi Valley State, 79-57, on Monday night on ESPNU in a Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) game at the Fredrick C. Hobdy Assembly Center.
 
Grambling State (11-11 overall, 5-4 SWAC) completed its three-game homestand with two straight victories and will take to the road seeking season sweeps of Southern and Alcorn State.
 
Mpoyo went 8-of-10 from the floor, including 3-for-4 from behind the three-point line, to finish with 22 points, 11 rebounds and two steals. Dallas Polk-Hilliard registered 20 points, three boards, two assists and one steal, while Ivy Smith, Jr. tallied 18 points, seven assists, five boards and four steals.
 
Dante Scott and Gregory Jones-Rollins each paced Mississippi Valley State (3-20, 1-8) with 11 points.
 
Turning Point
Grambling State trailed, 16-12, after a Michael Green jumper with 9:28 left in the opening half, but the Tigers slowly cut the deficit and took a 21-20 advantage after a 3-pointer by Dallas Polk-Hilliard with 4:12 remaining.
 
GSU used a 12-3 run over the final four minutes to take a 33-23 lead into the break.
 
Grambling State extended the advantage to 46-28 after a three-point play by Axel Mpoyo with 15:21 left.
 
Mississippi Valley State closed the gap to 14 points three times, but could not get any closer as Grambling State picked up its second consecutive home win.
 
Inside the Numbers
> Grambling State shot 46.7 percent (28-of-60) from the floor and 77.8 percent (14-of-18) from the charity stripe
> Mississippi Valley State was 18-of-59 (30.5 percent) from the field and 15-of-24 (62.5) from the foul line
> The Tigers registered 50 rebounds, including 39 on the defensive glass
> The Delta Devils pulled down 32 rebounds, with 23 coming on the defensive end
> Grambling State finished with 26 points in the paint, 14 points off 14 Delta Devil turnovers, seven second-chance points and six bench points
> MVSU recorded 22 points in the paint, 18 bench points, 17 points off 17 Tiger turnovers and 10 second-chance points
 
News & Notes
> Grambling State split the season series last year
> The Tigers predicted to win the conference and are defending its regular season crown
> Grambling State leads the conference in 11 different categories
> Dallas Polk-Hilliard paces the Tigers with seven double-doubles
> Ivy Smith, Jr. leads the conference in assists per game, free-throws made and total assists
> Axel Mpoyo registered his third double-double of the season and his sixth of his career
 
Up Next
Grambling State returns to action with a pair of road games as the Tigers visit Southern on Saturday and conclude the short two-game road swing at Alcorn State on Feb. 11. Grambling State is seeking a sweep of both the Jaguars and Braves this season.

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.