GRAMBLING, La. | Grambling State continued its strong start to Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) play Monday night, pulling away in the second half for an 84-67 victory over Texas Southern at the Fredrick C. Hobdy Assembly Center. 

GSU improved to 8-7 overall and 2-0 in conference play, while TSU fell to 2-11 and 0-2 in the SWAC.

Grambling State used a balanced offensive effort and a dominant second-half performance to secure the win, shooting 53.3 percent from the field after halftime and outscoring Texas Southern 44-33 over
the final 20 minutes.

The game featured multiple lead changes early as Texas Southern came out hot from beyond the arc. Zaire Hayes led the visitors with a game-high 25 points, connecting on five three-pointers in the opening half to keep the contest tight. TSU shot 46.7 percent from the field in the first half and trailed just 40-34 at the break.

Grambling State answered in the second half with a decisive run sparked by its backcourt and interior presence. Roderick Coffee III knocked down five three-pointers and finished with 21 points, while Derrius Ward added 20 points on an efficient 7-of-9 shooting, including four makes from beyond the arc. The Tigers pushed the lead to double figures midway through the half and never looked back.

The Tigers' bench provided a major boost, outscoring Texas Southern's reserves 35-21. Mekhi Fitts chipped in eight points, while Devyn Franklin added 10 points and controlled the paint with timely finishes. Grambling State forced 16 turnovers and converted them into 23 points, helping to fuel the second-half surge. 

GSU shot 49.1 percent from the field for the game and connected on 12 three-pointers, while holding Texas Southern to 34.5 percent shooting in the second half. Grambling State also held a rebounding advantage and consistently created second-chance opportunities during key stretches of the game. 

UP NEXT
Grambling State travels to the Sunshine State of Florida for a two-game SWAC road trip at Bethune-Cookman and Florida A&M.
The Tigers take on BCU on Saturday, Jan. 10 at 5:30 p.m. EST at Moore Gymnasium in Daytona Beach, Fla. GSU then heads to Tallahassee, Fla. to face FAMU on Monday, Jan. 12 at the Al Lawson Center at 7 p.m. EST. 

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