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Grambling State University Athletics

Jalen Johnson
63
Prairie View PVAM 5-9,0-1 SWAC
69
Winner Grambling GSU 4-10,1-0 SWAC
Prairie View PVAM
5-9,0-1 SWAC
63
Final
69
Grambling GSU
4-10,1-0 SWAC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Prairie View PVAM 21 42 63
Grambling GSU 25 44 69

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | | Curtis Ford

Johnson Scores 20 as GSU Downs Prairie View A&M in SWAC Opener

GRAMBLING, La. | Jalen Johnson had a big day for Grambling State, scoring a team-high 20 points. His performance helped guide GSU to a 69-63 win over Prairie View A&M in its Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) opener on Saturday afternoon at the Fredrick C. Hobdy Assembly Center. 
 
Johnson was also dominant on the boards, snatching a game-high eight rebounds and making two steals. 
 
The victory improved GSU to 4-10 overall and 1-0 in SWAC play. PVAMU fell to 5-9 and 0-1 in the conference. 
 
The first half was a close affair. With the score tied 15-12 with 9:42 remaining in the opening period, Grambling State used a 13-2 run over the next eight minutes to craft a 25-17 lead just before halftime. The Tigers held a 25-21 lead at the break. 
 
After a layup by the Tigers to open the second half, PVAMU's Charles Smith drained back-to-back 3-pointers tying the game 27-27 with 18:03 to go. That would be the last time the Panthers would be level with the Tigers as GSU scored the next seven points to grab a 34-27 advantage at the 15:56 mark.
 
Prairie View did pull within one point of the Tigers, 38-37, with 11:10 to play. Grambling took control of the game from that point, however.
 
Following a pair of free throws, a thunderous dunk by Jourdan Smith gave the Tigers 42-37 cushion with 10:19 to go. After trading buckets back-and-forth, and the Panthers trailing 44-41, GSU began to shake free of the pesky Panthers. 
 
Grambling State embarked on a 17-6 run capped by a 3-pointer from Smith that gave the Tigers its largest lead of the contest, 61-47, with 4:04 remaining.
 
Prairie View A&M tried to rally late but the Tigers proved too much, securing the 69-63 triumph. 
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
  • Grambling State shot 54.2 percent from the field (26-of-48). The Tigers connected on 3-of-6 from 3-point range (50.0 percent) and 14-of-20 from the free throw line (70.0 percent).
  • Prairie View A&M went 24-of-54 from the floor (44.4 percent) including 3-of-8 (37.5 percent) from behind the arc and 12-of-19 (63.2 percent) from the charity stripe. 
  • GSU forced 13 turnovers. PVAMU forced 22 turnovers.
  • Grambling State outrebounded the Prairie View A&M 36-23.
  • GSU dished out 12 assists. PVAMU delivered 17 assists.
  • Grambling State's bench outscored PVAMU's bench 23-11
  • Jourdan Smith was GSU's second-leading scorer with 13 points, five rebounds, two blocks and one steal.
  • Charles Smith IV led the Panthers with a game-high 24 points with one rebound, one steal and one assist. 
 
UP NEXT
Grambling State returns to action versus Texas Southern on Monday evening. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at the Fredrick C. Hobdy Assembly Center. 

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