Jan. 10, 2010

Final Stats

Earnest Jones scored 18 points to lead Southern University to a 73-67 win over Grambling State on Saturday night.

Jones added seven rebounds for the Jaguars (3-12, 1-2 Southwestern Athletic Conference), who snapped a two-game losing streak. Norm Nixon Jr. had his best game as a Jaguar, finishing with 16 points and eight rebounds in the win.

Southern U. head coach Norm Nixon, Jr., Tony McGilveary getting the starting nods for the Jags.

Grambling would jump out early on the Southern Jaguars, and the Tigers pushed ahead for an early lead and took control at 13-7 at the first media timeout. However, the Southern Jaguars, chipped their way back into the game and retook the lead, 23-21, on a Quinton Doggett jump shot with 10:13 remaining in the half and pulled away for a 42-31 lead at the break.

Southern was paced by 15 solid points from the bench at the half, and finished outscoring the Tigers bench 21-3 for the game.

This was a game of runs, and the Jaguars who led by as many as 16 points in the second half, then fell behind by five points on a Grambling State 16-0 run, led by Lance Fuertado.

But the Jags were able to curtail the run, and responded with smart possessions, clutch shots and a handful of defensive stops down the stretch.

Although it seemed as though southern would blow the game on missed free throws in the final minutes, Norm Nixon, Jr., made free throws to tie the game at 62-62 with 4:24 remaining. The free throws sparked a late 12-0 run for the Jaguars, and a layup from Jones made the score 72-62 with 41 seconds remaining.

Lance Fuertado led Grambling State (3-8, 1-2) with 26. George Akpele chipped in with 16 points and six rebounds. Donald Qualls had nine points and two assists.

Besides Earnest Jones' 18 points and Norm Nixon, Jr 16 points, Doug Scott added nine points and seven rebounds and Tony McGilveary and Bobby Lee each chipped in seven points.

Southern will host Jackson State University on Monday night at 7:30 pm at the FG Clark Activity Center.