By Curtis, Grambling State Associate AD for Athletic Communications
ATLANTA — Grambling State erased a 13-point second half deficit to rally past top-seeded Southern 65-62 in overtime in the quarterfinals of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Basketball Tournament on Wednesday afternoon at the Gateway Center Arena.
Mikale Stevenson came up big for GSU (12-21), scoring a game-high 17 points, five rebounds, three steals and two assists in the victory. Kintavious Dozier(11 points) and James Flippin (10 points) also scored in double-figures for the Tigers.
Grambling State opened an 8-6 lead heading into the second media timeout of the game with 11:35 on the clock.
Southern used a 12-2 run to push ahead 18-10 on a PJ Dobuol layup with 6:35 to go in the half.
The Tigers pulled back within three, 24-21, after PJ Eason split a pair of free throws with 1:26 remaining in the half, but Southern grew its cushion back to eight points, 29-21, heading into halftime.
Neither team found an offensive rhythm in the first half with the Tigers shooting 25.9 percent (7-of-27) from the field, while SU was 38.7 percent from the floor (12-of-31).
GSU’s offensive struggles continued out of the locker room as Southern grew its lead to 36-23 with 15:56 left in regulation.
The turning point of the game at the 9:55 mark when Louis Hutchinsonsplashed a 3-pointer that sparked a remarkable 20-4 run that saw Grambling State take a 49-44 lead with 1:57 on the clock.
SU’s Jordan Johnson halted the run with a 3-pointer to make it 49-47 with 1:49 remaining in regulation.
The Jaguars pushed the game into overtime when Michael Jacobs picked Dozier’s pocket and found Noel Brentay under the basket for a game-tying dunk just before time expired.
After Southern took a quick 51-49 lead in the extra period, a Dozier 3-pointer pushed the Tigers back in front 52-51. With 1:52 left in the contest, and GSU clinging to a 54-53 lead, Stevenson gave the Tigers some breathing room with a triple of his own.
Following a basket by the Jaguars, Hutchinson line up and knocked down another big 3-pointer and growing Grambling State’s advantage to 60-55 with one minute to go.
Southern made it a one-point game, 63-62, with four seconds to go. But with time dwindling and the Jaguars needed to foul, they send Dozier to the free throw line. Dozier iced the game, knocking down both free throws and securing the win for the Tigers.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- Grambling State shot 32.2 percent from the field (19-of-59) and 33.3 percent (7-of-21) from three-point range. GSU was 20-of-26 at the free throw line (76.9 percent).
- Grambling State grabbed 36 rebounds.
- GSU committed 14 turnovers.
- The Tigers scored 31 bench points, 24 points in the paint, 23 points off turnovers, 11 second chance points and nine fastbreak points.
- Southern shot 31.9 percent from the floor (3-of-17) and 17.6 percent from behind the arc (3-of-17). SU was 15-of-15 at the charity stripe (100.0 percent)
- The Jaguars pulled down 52 rebounds.
- Southern committed 21 turnovers.
- SU finished with 38 points in the paint, 32 bench points, 16 second chance points, 15 fastbreak points and 11 points off turnovers.
- Cam Amboree and Thomas Dionjahe led Southern with 12 points apiece.
News & Notes
- Grambling State head coach Donte’ Jackson improved to 10-5 al-time in the SWAC Tournament.
- Jackson also improved to 14-5 against Southern since inheriting the GSU program in 2017-18.
- Grambling State advances to the SWAC Semifinals for the fifth consecutive season.
Up Next
Grambling State will face the winner of Thursday’s quarterfinal matchup between No. 4 seed Texas Southern and No. 5 seed Alabama State on Friday at the Gateway Center Arena. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m. EST and will be streamed on ESPN+.