GRAMBLING, La. | Grambling State came up just short Tuesday night, falling 67–64 to Arkansas-Pine Bluff in a tightly contested Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) matchup at the Fredrick C. Hobdy Assembly Center.
GSU fell to 10-11 overall and 4-4 in the SWAC, while UAPB improved to 9-13 and 6-3 in conference.
Antonio Munoz delivered one of his strongest performances of the season off the bench, leading all scorers with a career-high 26 points on an efficient 10-of-15 shooting from the floor. Munoz was a constant presence in the paint, repeatedly finishing through contact and keeping Grambling State within striking distance throughout the night. He also pulled down seven rebounds and went 6-for-7 at the free throw line, accounting for 28 of the Tigers' 64 points either by scoring or at the stripe.
The contest featured nine ties and three lead changes, with neither team able to build a comfortable margin. Arkansas-Pine Bluff held a slim 32–30 advantage at halftime, despite GSU shooting nearly 45 percent from the field in the opening period.
Grambling struggled from long range early, missing all 11 three-point attempts in the first half, but stayed close behind strong interior play. Munoz scored nine points before the break, including multiple finishes in transition and second-chance opportunities.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff opened the second half with a brief surge to extend its lead, but Munoz helped steady the Tigers with a pair of baskets in the lane and free throws to trim the deficit. Rickey Ballard knocked down a three-pointer midway through the second half to spark a run that cut the lead to two, bringing the home crowd to its feet.
Down the stretch, Munoz continued to shoulder the offensive load. He converted a dunk, a tip-in, and a pair of free throws in the final three minutes, pulling Grambling State within one point at 65–64 with 34 seconds remaining. However, Arkansas-Pine Bluff sealed the game at the free throw line in the closing seconds, and GSU's final three-point attempt came up short.
Roderick Coffee III added 12 points, five rebounds, and three assists for Grambling, while Ballard finished with nine points and two steals. Derrius Ward contributed eight points and six rebounds, and Devyn Franklin grabbed six boards in the loss.
Grambling finished with a 40–35 rebounding edge and outscored Arkansas-Pine Bluff 38–30 in the paint, but the Tigers were limited to 3-of-25 shooting from beyond the arc.
UP NEXT
Grambling State gears up for another home game on Saturday afternoon verses Alabama State. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m. at the Hobdy Center. The game will be streamed on SWAC TV.
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