GRAMBLING, La. | The Grambling State University football team fell to Alabama A&M 22-17 on Thursday night at Louis Crew Stadium.
 
In what has become a familiar theme, GSU (5-6 overall, 2-5 SWAC) lost its fifth conference game by less the seven points. The Tigers, who held a 17-6 lead at halftime, were shut in the second half. Penalties and costly turnovers plagued GSU throughout the evening.
 
The Tigers were penalized 15 times for 134 yards and committed three turnovers.  
 
Grambling State accumulated 263 yards of total offense with 169 yards coming through the air. Alabama A&M (5-5, 3-3) racked up 388 yards. 
 
GSU quarterback Myles Crawley, who missed the Tigers previous two games with an injury, returned to the starting lineup on Thursday night. He was 12-for-27 for 169 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions. Javon Robinson was his top target with four catches for 44 yards. 
 
Ke'Travion Hargrove led GSU on the ground with 38 yards on eight carries. GSU ran for 94 yards as a team. It was the first time since facing Tuskegee on Sept. 7 that the Tigers didn't eclipse 100 rushing yards. 
 
Defensively, Andrew Jones continued to prove why he's one of the best linebackers in the nation, racking up a game-high 15 total tackles, five solo stops, one tackle for loss and fumble returned for a touchdown. 
 
After forcing a punt on AAMU's opening drive, Crawley's first pass attempt of the game was picked off by Dorian Wesley. The Bulldogs couldn't turn the takeaway into points.
 
On Grambling State's drive of the game, Jalen Johnson took a screen pass 67 yards to the Alabama A&M 7-yard line, giving GSU a prime scoring opportunity. The Tigers ended up settling for a 23-yard field goal from Reed Harradine to take a 3-0 lead with 8:31 to go in the first quarter. 
 
Alabama A&M's Austin McCready tied the game 3-3 on a 45-yard field goal with 2:07 remaining in the opening period. 
 
GSU jumped back in the lead early in the second quarter with Jalen Rudolph strip sacked Cornelius Brown. Andrew Jones scooped up the loose ball and sprinted 30 yards for a touchdown, giving GSU a 10-3 lead with 14:06 on the clock. It was Grambling State's fifth defensive score of the season.
 
The Tigers extended its lead to 17-3 with Crawley connected with JR Waters for a 10-yard TD pass with 10:09 left until halftime. 
 
Alabama A&M's Victor Barbosa added a 38-yard field goal as time expired to make it a 17-6 game at the break. 
 
Grambling State opened the second half with the ball, but a fumble by Dedrick Talbert gave the Bulldogs the ball at the Tiger 34-yard line. AAMU immediately made GSU pay when Brown threw a 34-yard dart to Keenan Hambrick. The Bulldogs converted a two-point conversion, cutting GSU's lead to 17-14 with 13:49 to go in the third quarter. 
 
Alabama A&M tied the game 17-17 on a 44-yard field goal by Barbosa with 7:04 left the period. 
The Bulldogs took its first lead of the night on a safety with 46 seconds on the clock. With Grambling State lining up to punt from its own 25-yard line, an errant snap sailed over punter Johnny Schifano's head and through the end zone. 
 
AAMU extended its advantage to 22-17 on a 19-yard field goal by Barbosa.
 
On Grambling State's next drive, with the Tigers facing 4^th and 15 from its on 44-yard line, GSU had a chance to move the ball into Bulldog territory, but a dropped pass at the Alabama A&M 40-yard line resulted in turnover on downs with 3:22 on the clock. 
 
GSU had a once more opportunity to mount a game-winning drive, regaining possession on its own 4-yard line with 1:44 left in the game. However, Crawley was intercepted on first down by Kaleb Dawson. 
 
Brown completed 20-of-35 passes for 228 yards and a touchdown. Donovan Eaglin paced the Alabama A&M run game, rushing for 123 yards on 25 carries. 
 
Hambrick caught eight passes for 99 yards and a TD for the Bulldogs. 
 
UP NEXT
Grambling State enters a bye week before gearing up for the 51^st annual Bayou Classic at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, La. on Nov. 30. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. on NBC. 
 
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