GRAMBLING, La. | The Grambling State University men's basketball team defeated Louisiana Christian College in its home opener at the Fredrick C. Hobdy Assembly Center Wednesday afternoon, 71-61. 

Cameron Christian recorded a double-double of 21 points and 11 rebounds, 10 of those boards coming on the defensive glass, along with five assists and a pair of steals.

Grambling State led nearly most of the game, until 5:15 remaining when Louisiana Christian battled back and grabbed a two-point advantage. However, the Tigers finished strong and closed the game on a 17-5 run to pick up their first home victory.

HOW IT HAPPENED 
- Grambling State (1-4) jumped ahead to an early 15-9 lead putting points on the board first
- Louisiana Christian (4-3) found a groove as the Wildcats got back into the game, 19-14 with 10:58 to play in the first half
- Cameron Christion came up two big 3-pointers to give the Tigers a 10-point lead, 26-16, with 8:13 remaining in the opening half
- Grambling State scored 11 more points to take it into halftime with a nine-point lead, 37-28
- The Wildcats scored first coming out of the break, but their momentum didn't last long 
- AJ Taylor threw one down to extend the Tigers' lead by 14, with just under 17 minutes left
- Back came Louisiana Christian as the Wildcats used a 20-8 run over the next eight minutes
- Back-to-back free-throws by Jude Akabueze put the Wildcats within two-point of Grambling State, 54-52
- LCC's  Kae'ron Baker scored on a layup, tying the score at 54 with 6:56 remaining
-Cameron Christon followed Baker's bucket to tie the score at 56 and again at 58 with 4:38 left to play
- Christon's success at the free-throw line gave Grambling State its lead back, 60-58 
- Shawdarius Cowart drained a 3-pointer with 3:24 remaining as GSU held on to a 63-58 lead
- The Wildcats never recovered as GSU sealed its first home victory

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- Grambling State shot 47.2 percent (25-of-53) from the floor and 66.7 percent (14-of-21) from the free-throw line
- Cameron Christon registered 21 points, 11 rebounds and five assists
- AJ Taylor added 14 points, seven rebounds and one assist
- The Tigers recorded 20 bench points,32 points in the paint, 12 points off of Louisiana Christian turnovers, 12 second-chance points and six fastbreak points
- Louisiana Christian (4-3) went 25-of-63 shooting (39.7 percent) from the field and 4-of-6 (66.7 percent) from the charity stripe
- Kae'ron Baker paced the Wildcats with 19 points, on 7-of-17 shooting, including 4-of-12 from the long range, with seven rebounds, six assists, and two steals
- Jude Akabueze and Bailey Hardy each tallied nine points and seven rebounds
- The Wildcats finished with 14 bench points, 20 points in the paint, 16 second-chance points, 15 points off of 19 GSU turnovers and six fastbreak points 

UP NEXT
Grambling State will head to Phoenix, Ariz. to compete in the Boost Mobile HBCU Challenge hosted by Chris Paul. The Tigers will tip off against Morgan State on Sunday at 9:30 p.m. (central) at the Footprint Center.

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