Jan. 11, 2009

Final Stats

GSU's Ariece Perkins scored 21 points, including the game-winning three point shot with one second left, to give Grambling State its first SWAC win of the year in a 55-53 win over rival Southern University on Saturday evening in the Assembly Center in Grambling, LA.

Grambling State, which led 26-21 at the half, held a seven-point lead less than five minutes into the second half but watched the lead evaporate as Southern went on an 8-0 run to claim a 35-34 margin at the 14:28 mark after a Chris Davis breakaway slam dunk.

From that point, the contest turned into the traditional Grambling State/SU slugfest as neither team led by more than four points through the remainder of the game. With the game tied at 46-all with 4:50 remaining, SU's Ernest Jones nailed 1-of-2 free throws from the charity stripe to move the Jaguars on top 47-46. Grambling forward Jared Riley answered with a jumper to put GSU back on top several seconds later but Jones tied (48-48) it for the fourth time in the half with a free throw at the 4:02 mark.

Grambling took a 50-48 advantage following a jumper by Perkins with 3:38 left in regulation. Both teams went cold over the next three minutes until SU guard Steffon Wiley nailed a three-pointer with 48 seconds left for a 51-50 Jaguar advantage.

Grambling responded with a basket to put the Tigers back ahead 52-51 with 22 seconds left but a Chris Davis 15-foot jumper moved Southern back on top 53-52 with only 12 seconds remaining.

The Southern defense tightened over the final 12 seconds and kept Grambling from getting an open look at the basket. As time winded down, Perkins gained control of the ball and floated the shot over the arms of three Southern defenders to give Grambling State the win.

Chris Davis led Southern with 12 points apiece, while Douglas Scott pulled down a game-high nine rebounds.

Southern is back in action again on Monday night at 8:00 p.m. as they square off with the Tigers of Jackson State on ESPNU, "live" from Jackson, MS.