Grambling beats Prairie View 90-85, moves into 1st-place tie
PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas -- Ivy Smith Jr. scored the final seven points and Grambling held off Prairie View A&M, 90-85 on Saturday night to win their ninth straight game and move into a first-place tie in the Southwestern Conference.
The Tigers opened SWAC play with three straight losses, but have since strung together nine consecutive wins. After Arkansas-Pine Bluff's loss to Southern Saturday, 70-62, the teams now are tied atop the conference with 9-3 records.
Gary Blackston hit a 3 to get Prairie View within one, 79-78 with 3:27 left, but Shirmane Thomas answered with a jumper and hit a pair of free throws and Smith added another to defuse the threat. Troy Thompson hit a 3 and Blackston made two free throws to get the Panthers within a point, 84-83, but Smith answered with a jumper and four straight free throws to put the game out of reach.
Smith finished with 28 points and Thomas scored 26 to lead Grambling (13-12, 9-3). Devante Jackson added 15 points and Anthony Gaston contributed 13.
Blackston finished with 25 points for Prairie View (9-16, 6-5), with Zachary Hamilton adding 19 and Dennis Jones 13.
Game Information
- Referees:
- Johnny Wilkins
- Grady Dale
- Ross Cullins
2023-24 Southwestern Athletic Conference Standings
Team | CONF | GB | OVR |
---|---|---|---|
Grambling | 14-4 | - | 21-15 |
Alcorn State | 13-5 | 1 | 14-18 |
Southern | 12-6 | 2 | 18-14 |
Texas Southern | 12-6 | 2 | 16-17 |
Bethune-Cookman | 11-7 | 3 | 17-17 |
Jackson State | 11-7 | 3 | 15-17 |
Alabama A&M | 9-9 | 5 | 12-23 |
Arkansas-Pine Bluff | 8-10 | 6 | 13-18 |
Alabama State | 8-10 | 6 | 13-19 |
Prairie View A&M | 5-13 | 9 | 10-21 |
Florida A&M | 4-14 | 10 | 6-23 |
Mississippi Valley State | 1-17 | 13 | 1-30 |