HAMMOND, La. | The Grambling State University men's basketball team nearly secured its first road win of the season, but came up just short, dropping a 48-47 heartbreaker to Southeastern Louisiana on Wednesday night at the Pride Roofing University Center. 
 
GSU (2-9) mounted a furious late rally versus SLU (4-8) but couldn't finish the job. Kentavious Dozier led three Tigers into double figures with a game-high 19 points, a steal and block. Tra'Michael Moton contributed 13 points with two rebounds, two steals and an assist.
 
Terrence Lewis added 10 points to go with two rebounds and an assist. 
 
The first half was low scoring affair with both teams struggling to find consistent offense. Grambling trailed 24-16 heading into the half time break. 
 
The Tigers found its rhythm midway through the second half, however. Trailing 37-27, GSU used a 13-2 run to pull within a point. Dozier splashed a 3-pointer from the left corner to make it 37-32 with 9:11 remaining. On GSU's next trip up the court Lewis knocked down a big three, cutting SLU's lead to 37-35. After an SLU layup, Dozier drained another triple, trimming the deficit to 39-38 with 7:46 to play.
 
Southeastern pushed its lead to 44-38 following Brody Rowbury layup, but a technical foul called on Rowbury after the basket sent Moton to the line for a pair of technical free throws. Moton converted both attempts from the charity stripe to make it 44-40 with 3:27 to go.
 
A driving layup by Lewis cut SLU's lead down to 44-42. Following a steal by Moton, Dozier sank a layup, tying the game 44-44 at the 2:23 mark. 
 
After the Lions regained a 46-44 lead, Dozier came up big one again with another 3-pointer, giving GSU a slim 47-46 lead, its first since early in the first quarter, with 33 seconds left. SLU's Roger McFarlane responded with a mid-range jumper to put the Lions in front 48-47 with 20 seconds on the clock. 
 
Grambling State had one more chance to snatch victory, but a last second shot was off the mark and the Tigers fell in defeat. 
 
GSU shot 40 percent from the floor (18-of-45) and 35 percent from 3-point range (7-of-20). Southeastern Louisiana connected on 36.2 percent of its shots (17-of-47) and 29.4 percent from deep (5-of-17).
 
The Lions out rebounded the Tigers 31-28. 
 
McFarlane paces SLU with 13 points and nine rebounds. 
 
Up Next 
Grambling State prepares for the final game of the 2023 portion of its schedule as the Tigers travel to Gainesville, Fla. To take on the Florida Gators. Tip-off is scheduled for 4 p.m. EST and will be broadcast on SEC Network+.
 
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