BIRMINGHAM, Ala. | The Grambling State University men's basketball team erased a 14-point first half deficit to defeat Jackson State 78-69, and clinch its first trip to the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Championship since 2011 on Friday night at Bartow Arena.
GSU (24-8) faced adversity it hadn't seen since Dec. 19, the last time the Tigers trailed any opponent by double-digits.
Jourdan Smith and Shawdarius Cowart led the Grambling State attack, both scoring 18 points apiece. Smith added eight rebounds, a steal, a block and an assist to his total. Cowart grabbed three boards. Cameron Christon finished with 15 points with two rebounds, two steals and an assist.
Grambling State shot 52.9 percent from the floor, going 27-of-51 and 6-of-15 from behind the arc. The Tigers also went 18-of-24 at the charity stripe (75.0 percent). GSU held Jackson State to 37.7 percent shooting (23-of-61).
GSU's production off the bench also played a pivotal role in the outcome of the game, as Grambling State's reserves outscored Jackson State's 20-8.
JSU (14-19) punched Grambling State in the mouth early, building a 27-13 lead midway through the first half. GSU used a 12-2 run capped by a Christon steal and dunk to cut the deficit to four, 29-25, with 5:41 to go in the half. Jackson State carried a slim 36-34 lead not the break.
GSU kept pressing Jackson State, grabbing its first lead of the game, 46-45, with 14:47 to go.
A rim rattling dunk by Smith full swung momentum Grambling State's way with 4:26 to play, making the score 65-59. A jumper by Virshon Cotton gave GSU a 69-59 cushion with 2:46 remaining.
A 3-pointer by Coltie Young helped Jackson State cut Grambling State's lead down to five, 71-66 with 1:01 to play, but that was the closest JSU could get as GSU put the game to rest down the stretch.
Young paced Jackson State with 18 points, three rebounds, an assist and a steal.
Up Next
Grambling State faces Texas Southern, the No. 8 seed, in the SWAC Men's Basketball Championship game on Saturday. Tip-off set for 4:30 p.m. at Bartow Arena and will be broadcast on ESPNU.
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