Grambling holds off NAIA Tougaloo for 111-95 win

Dec 5, 2017, 04:35 am

GRAMBLING, La. -- Ivy Smith Jr. scored a career-high 31 points and had 13 assists and Axel Mpoyo got his second double-double of the season Monday night to lead Grambling past NAIA Tougaloo for a 111-95 win.

Smith was 16 of 17 from the line. Mpoyo finished with 19 points and 13 rebounds, both career highs, and Drake Wilks added 21 points for Grambling, which shot 55 percent from the field and got its first triple-digit final score of the season. Diontae Jones and Anthony Gaston had 14 points apiece for the Tigers.

Grambling led by as many as 20 points in the second half but had to hold off a Tougaloo rally that cut the gap to four three times before the Tigers retook control, getting a pair of free throws from Smith with 7:53 left to stretch the lead to 89-79, and protecting the double-digit advantage the rest of the way.

Tougaloo opened the game with a 3-pointer from Anfernee Parker to take its only lead and shot 50 percent from the field.

Tonzell Handy's 26 points led five Bulldogs in double figures.