By Curtis Ford, Grambling State Associate AD for Athletic Communications
ITTA BENA, Miss. — Grambling State found its way back into the win column after defeating Mississippi Valley State 65-54 on Saturday night at the R.W. Harrison HPER Complex.
GSU (5-14 overall, 2-4 SWAC) trailed at halftime, but breezed past MVSU (2-18, 0-7) with an early second half surge.
The Tigers got a career-high 12-point effort out of junior guard Emareyon McDonald, who entered the game off the bench. Grambling State’s reserves played a pivotal role in the victory, accounting 31 points.
Antwan Burnett also added 12 points for GSU, while Mikale Stevensoncontributed 11.
With GSU trailing 16-14 with 6:17 remaining in the first period, McDonald knocked down a deep 3-point from the wing to give the Tigers a 17-16 lead.
MVSU responded with an 8-0 run, highlighted by a pair of threes by Arthur Tate, to grab a 24-17 lead 3:04 on the clock. Tate scored 16 of his 21 points in the opening period.
Flippin scored GSU’s next six points during a 6-1 spurt to make it a 25-23 game with 1:11 until halftime. The Delta Devils led 27-23 at the break.
Grambling State came out of the locker room on fire, opening the half on an 18-4 run to grab its first double-double digit lead of the contest, 41-31, with 12:12 left. Another 3-point by McDonald gave the Tigers their largest lead of night, 51-34, with 9:45 to play.
Mississippi Valley State battled its way back into the game, however, whittling GSU advantage down to 54-50 with 2:32 remaining.
Chilaydrien Newton splashed a clutch three 2:13 on the clock to give the Tigers a bit more breathing room, making the score 57-50.
The Tigers didn’t allow MVSU to threaten them the rest of the way as GSU clinched the 65-54 win.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- Grambling State shot 42.9 percent from the field (21-of-49) and 50.0 percent (10-of-20) from three-point range. GSU was 13-of-21 at the free throw line (61.9 percent).
- GSU grabbed 28 rebounds.
- The Tigers committed seven turnovers.
- Grambling State scored 31 bench points, 18 points in the paint, 12 points off turnovers, 10 second chance points and 10 fastbreak points.
- Mississippi Valley State shot 36.7 percent from the floor (18-of-49) and 30 percent from behind the arc (6-of-20). MVSU was 12-of-13 at the charity stripe (92.3 percent)
- The Delta Devils pulled down 35 rebounds.
- Mississippi Valley State committed 15 turnovers.
- MVSU scored 20 points in the paint, 16 second chance points, 15 bench points, six points off turnovers and five fastbreak points.
- MVSU was led by Arthur Tate who scored a game-high 21 points with six rebounds.
Up Next
Grambling State heads to Pine Bluff, Ark. for a Monday night battle versus the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. at H.O. Clemmons Arena.
