JACKSON, Miss. | Grambling State picked up a hard-fought 69-66 road victory over Jackson State on Saturday afternoon at the Lee E. Williams Athletics and Assembly Center, as Rickey Ballard drilled a clutch three-pointer in the final seconds to lift the Tigers to their third Southweatern Athletic Conference (SWAC) win of the season.
The Tigers improved to 9-10 overall and 3-3 in conference play, snapping a back-and-forth contest that featured 10 lead changes and five ties. Jackson State fell to 6-15 overall and 5-3 in SWAC action.
Grambling State came out with energy early, using perimeter shooting and defensive pressure to take control in the opening half. Jamil Muttilib scored in transition and knocked down a pair of three-pointers, while Derrius Ward and Roderick Coffee III added timely shots from beyond the arc. The Tigers led by as many as eight points late in the half and carried a 37-32 advantage into the break.
Jackson State answered in the second half behind a dominant performance from Daeshun Ruffin, who finished with a game-high 38 points. The Tigers weathered several JSU runs, leaning on Antonio Munoz inside and Ballard's shooting to keep the game within reach. Munoz provided a spark off the bench, scoring 15 points and converting multiple baskets in the paint during a key stretch midway through the half.
GSU appeared to seize control when Ward connected on a three-pointer to give the Tigers a double-digit lead, but Jackson State continued to chip away. Ruffin's three-pointer with 5:15 remaining tied the game at 61-61, setting up a tense final stretch.
With the score knotted at 64-64 and under 20 seconds remaining, Coffee drove and kicked to Ballard on the perimeter. Ballard calmly rose up and buried a three-pointer with 15 seconds left, giving Grambling State a 67-64 lead and silencing the home crowd. After Jackson State converted at the free-throw line, Ward stepped up and knocked down two clutch free throws in the final seconds to seal the win.
Ballard finished with 15 points, all coming from beyond the arc, as he connected on five three-pointers. Muttilib added 14 points and five assists, while Ward contributed 10 points, five assists and two steals. Coffee III nearly posted a triple-double with six points, eight assists and eight rebounds, helping anchor the Tigers on both ends of the floor.
Grambling State shot 39.3 percent from the field and knocked down 11 three-pointers, while holding Jackson State to 28.6 percent shooting from beyond the arc. The Tigers also won the rebounding battle, 41-34, and forced 12 turnovers.
UP NEXT
Grambling State continues its Mississippi road trip on Monday when the Tigers head to Lorman, Miss. to take on Alcorn State. Tip-off is at 7 p.m. at the Davey L. Whitney Complex. The game will be streamed on SWAC TV.
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