MVSU beats Grambling State 79-74

GRAMBLING, La. -- Jordan Evans scored 29 points and grabbed nine rebounds, Dante Scott had 15 points and 13 boards and Mississippi Valley State beat Grambling State 79-74 on Monday night.

MVSU (4-26, 4-13 Southwestern Athletic Conference) has won three of its last seven after starting the season with 20 straight losses. Grambling (15-14, 11-5) has lost two straight after an 11-game winning streak.

The Tigers led by as many as 10 points in the first half, but MVSU used a 26-8 run for a 45-37 lead going into the break.

MVSU led 56-40 early in the second half, but Grambling State cut it to 73-71 with 2:15 left after a bucket by Ivy Smith Jr. However, that would be as close as the Tigers would get down the stretch.

Anthony Gaston scored 17 points, Smith 16 and Devante Jackson had 13 points, eight rebounds and three blocks for the Tigers, who scored 22 points off 19 turnovers.

The teams combined for 101 rebounds after missing 92 of 147 field-goal attempts.