GRAMBLING, La. | Grambling State dropped a hard-fought Southwestern Athletic Conference contest on Monday night, falling 66-58 to Alabama A&M at the Fredrick C. Hobdy Assembly Center.

The Tigers struggled offensively in the first half but showed resilience after the break, outscoring the Bulldogs 35-30 in the second half before running out of time in the comeback effort.

Alabama A&M controlled the tempo early, building a double-digit lead behind an efficient opening half that saw the Bulldogs shoot 50 percent from the field and 45.5 percent from three-point range. Grambling State had difficulty finding rhythm offensively, shooting just 24 percent from the floor and 9.1 percent from beyond the arc in the first half, as Alabama A&M took a 36-23 lead into the locker room. 

The Tigers made adjustments in the second half and showed improved offensive execution, shooting 36 percent from the field and converting 14-of-17 free throws after halftime. Grambling cut into the deficit with improved ball movement and interior play, but Alabama A&M maintained control by getting to the free-throw line and limiting scoring runs. 

Roderick Coffee III led Grambling State with 17 points, adding four assists and three rebounds while logging 39 minutes. Jamil Muttilib contributed 12 points and three rebounds, while Rickey Ballard added eight points, four rebounds and three assists. Devyn Franklin was a strong presence on the boards, pulling down 10 rebounds to go with eight points. Derrius Ward chipped in seven points and six rebounds, while Randarius Jones provided four points off the bench. 

Alabama A&M was paced by James Graham, who scored 19 points on 7-of-13 shooting, while Kintavious Dozier added 13 points. Sami Pissis contributed 11 points and five rebounds, and Koron Davis and P.J. Eason added six and five points, respectively. The Bulldogs shot 42 percent from the field and made 17-of-24 free throws, capitalizing on opportunities at the line to preserve their lead. 

Grambling State held a 33-33 edge on the boards but struggled with perimeter shooting, finishing 4-of-24 from three-point range. The Tigers also turned the ball over 13 times, which Alabama A&M converted into 17 points. Despite those challenges, Grambling outscored the Bulldogs in the paint and stayed competitive throughout the second half. 

UP NEXT
Grambling State heads to Houston, Texas to face Texas on Saturday. Tip-off is scheduled for 4 p.m. at H&PE Arena. 

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