GRAMBLING, La. | Grambling State's Roderick Coffee III scored a game-high 20 points to help lead the Tigers to a 75-70 over Southern Miss over Thursday night on Willis Reed Court at the Fredrick C. Hobdy Assembly Center. 
 
The victory improved GSU to 3-1 on the season, it's best start since 2019. USM fell to 1-3.
 
Coffee was efficient shooting the ball, going 7-of-10 from the field, including 4-of-6 from behind the arc. His scoring effort was complimented with eight assists, four steals and three rebounds. He was one of three Tigers to score in double figures. 
 
Jamil Muttilib gave Grambling a huge spark off the bench, pouring in 15 points of on 5-of-8 shooting from deep. Randarius Jones added 13 and Jamel Lane tacked on 11 points. 
 
Grambling State shot 54.0 percent from the floor (27-of-50) and 45.0 from three-point range (9-of-20). 
 
Trailing 12-11 with 13:57 to go in the first half, GSU used a 7-0 run surge ahead for a lead it didn't relinquish for the remainder of the contest. Muttilib splashed a 3-pointer to cap the run and force a USM timeout with the Tigers ahead 18-12. 
 
The Tigers continued to grow its advantage, eventually taking a 42-30 lead into the half. 
 
In the second half, the Golden Eagles battled back, trimming GSU's cushion to two points, 57-55, with 8:46 remaining. Grambling State, however, dashed any hopes of a comeback pushing its lead back to double digits, 75-63 with 3:02 to play.
 
The Tigers' depth proved decisive as Grambling's bench outscored Southern Miss 30–16 and provided key defensive stops down the stretch. Grambling also won the turnover battle, forcing 17 giveaways and scoring 15 points off those opportunities.
 
UP NEXT
Grambling State returns to action on Tuesday, Nov. 18 when the Tigers begin a three-game west coast road trip versus the University of San Diego. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. PT/8 p.m. CT. 
 
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