GRAMBLING, La. | For the first time since the 2017-18 season, Grambling State earned a at least a share of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) regular season title, powering past Alabama State for 69-49 victory on Saturday evening at the Fredrick C. Howdy Assembly Center.
The Tigers found themselves in unfamiliar territory, trailing by a point at halftime, but used a dominating second period to earn its ninth consecutive win.
Tra'Michael Moton led four Tigers into double-figures, scoring a game-high 18 points with three assists, two rebounds and two steals. His 18 points was also a season high for the Shreveport, La. Native.
Cameron Christon added 15 points with seven rebounds, two assists and a steal. Shawndarius Cowart posted 12 points while Jourdan Smith contributed 11.Â
The Tigers played from behind for much of the first half, leading briefly, 26-25, at the 4:47 mark.
Grambling State dominated the second period, outscoring the Hornets 41-20. Trailing 37-36 with 15:08 to go, GSU used a 31-6 run to open up a 24 point lead, 67-43, with 3:30 to play.
As a team, shot 44.6 percent from the floor (25-of-56), while draining 50 percent of its shots from behind the arc (6-of-12). The Tigers limited Alabama State to 38.3 percent shooting (18-of-47).Â
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With the victory over Alabama State, Grambling State secured the No. 2 seed in the 2023 SWAC Men's Basketball Tournament in Birmingham, Ala. where the Tigers will take on No. 7 Bethune-Cookman. GSU swept the regular season series between the two teams.Â
Tip-off is set from Wednesday, March 8 at 2 p.m. at Barrow Arena.Â
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