GRAMBLING, La. | The Grambling State University men's basketball team closes out its regular season home campaign with a pair of Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) games against Alabama State on Thursday and Alabama A&M on Saturday.
 
Tip-off for Thursday's game is set for 7:30 p.m. at the Fredrick C. Hobdy Assembly Center as Grambling State will hold Faculty and Staff Appreciation Night. On Saturday, Grambling State will hold Senior Day, as tip-off against the Lady Bulldogs is scheduled for 5 p.m.
 
Grambling State (14-15 overall, 8-8 SWAC), which snapped a four-game losing streak to Mississippi Valley State on Monday, currently sits tied for fifth with Jackson State, but JSU holds the tiebreaker by virtue of sweeping the season series. A win against Alabama State could vault GSU into the top four.
 
Alabama State (11-16, 9-7) has dropped three out of its last four games, including a 96-69 loss to Prairie View A&M on Monday. The Hornets are looking to complete a season sweep of Grambling State for the first time since the 2014-15 season.
 
Alabama A&M (5-25, 4-12) will visit Jackson State on Thursday, before ending the regular season at Grambling State on Saturday. The Bulldogs, who are seeking a season sweep of the Tigers, enter the matchup having dropped its last six games, with the last victory coming on Feb. 9 against Mississippi Valley State (78-63).
 
ABOUT ALABAMA STATE
> Alabama State is averaging 67.6 points per game, while its opponents are averaging 71.5 points
> ASU is shooting 40.5 percent from the field and 65.3 percent from the foul line
> Reginald Gee paces the Hornets offense at 13.8 points and 4.4 rebounds per game, followed by Jacoby Ross at 13.3 points and 2.6 boards per game
 
ABOUT ALABAMA A&M
> Alabama A&M is averaging 61.2 points per game, while its opponents are averaging 71.7 points
> AAMU is shooting 41.1 percent from the field and 62.0 percent from the foul line
> Andre Kennedy paces the Bulldogs offense at 12.2 points and 6.1 rebounds per game, followed by Jalen Reeder at 9.6 points and 3.5 boards per game
 
LAST TIME OUT
> Grambling State is coming off a 77-75 victory, which snapped a four-game losing streak, on Monday against Mississippi Valley State
> Dallas Polk-Hilliard dropped a career-high 26 points to pace four players in double figures
> The Tigers shot 49.1 percent from the floor and 62.5 percent 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 13 different categories, including total rebounds and total rebounds per game
> Ivy Smith, Jr. surpassed the 1,000-point plateau against Mississippi Valley State
 
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
 
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