#SWACMBB Recaps: December 15
SWAC.org
Today’s Scores:
Grambling State 70, Portland 58
Northwestern State 69, Southern 66
Utah State 86, Alabama State 48
Murray State 74, Jackson State 57
Grambling State takes down Pilots in road win
PORTLAND, Ore. - Four players reached double figures in scoring as the Grambling State University men’s basketball team headed out west and picked up a 70-58 victory over Portland on Saturday night at the Chiles Center.
Grambling State (5-6), which snapped a two-game losing streak with the victory, trailed at the break, 35-34, but outscored Portland, 36-23, in the second half and held the Pilots to 1-for-15 from behind the 3-point line in the second half in picking up the win.
Ivy Smith, Jr. paced four Grambling State players in double figures with 13 points, including 6-of-7 from the foul line. He added nine assists and three boards. Dallas Polk-Hilliard scored all 12 of his points in the first half and registered seven boards, three steals and two assists. Lasani Johnson went 3-for-4 behind the 3-point line and finished with 11 points, four rebounds and a pair of steals, while Zavier Peart recorded 10 points, nine rebounds, one block and one assist.
Marcus Shaver, Jr. led the Pilots with 14 points, five rebounds, two assists and one block. Jojo Walker tallied 12 points, six rebounds, four assists and two steals, while Hugh Hogland finished with 11 points, four rebounds, one block and one steal.
- Grambling State Sports Information
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JSU’s Howell notches double-double in loss to Murray State
MURRAY, Ky. – Senior Chris Howell scored a team-high 17 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to post the double-double as Murray State defeated Jackson State 74-57 Saturday evening in non-conference action
JSU falls to 2-9 and MSU improves to 7-1 on the season.
As a team JSU, shot 31.7 percent (20-of-63) from the field, while the Racers connected on 41.8 percent (23-of-55) of their attempts from the floor.
The Tigers forced MSU into 15 turnovers, which was promptly turned into 16 points. JSU also showcased its depth as its bench outscored the Racers 31-25.
The Blue and White played well in the paint and out-rebounded MSU 42-39 and recorded 16 offensive rebounds. JSU also scored 26 points in the paint.
In 16 minutes of action, William Brown added nine points and recorded three steals.
Freshman Jayveous McKinnis added six points and six rebounds, while Dontelius Ross dropped five points and handed out a team-high four assists.
- JSU Sports Media
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Alabama State falls to Utah State
LOGAN, Utah – Tobi Ewuosho was the lone player in double figures for Alabama State off the bench, but it wasn’t enough to overcome five Utah State players in double figures as the Hornets fell 86-48 at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum Saturday night.
Ewuosho finished the night with 11 points, including shooting 3-of-5 from the floor and knocking down 4-of-5 free throws in the loss. He also had the highlight of the night for either team when he went baseline and dunked over Ben Fakira – a 6-11 post player for Utah State. Meanwhile, Reginald Gee added nine off the bench, while Leon Daniels added seven points and eight rebounds.
Alabama State (2-6) shot just 20.7 (12-of-58) percent from the floor in the loss, while shooting 21.1 (4-of-19) percent from beyond the arc. They also finished at 80 (20-of-25) percent from the free throw line, while forcing 19 Utah State turnovers.
Meanwhile, Sam Merrill led Utah State (9-2) with 16 points and five assists, while Neemis Queta finished with 15 points and seven rebounds – while also adding four blocked shots.
Dwayne Brown, Jr. added 14 points and seven rebounds off the bench, while Crew Ainge finished with 11 points. Diogo Brito added 10 for the Aggies who finished the night shooting 54.5 (30-of-55) percent from the floor, and 29.2 (7-of-24) percent from beyond the arc.
The Aggies also shot 67.9 (19-of-28) percent from the free throw line, while outrebounding Alabama State 49-32.
Alabama State fell behind 13-1 early before they were able to knock down their first basket of the game with 14:49 to play in the opening half to pull to within 10. Utah State pushed the lead to as many as 22 in the first half, before Alabama State got it down to 12 on a Daniels’ layup 2:31 to play in the half (35-23). The Aggies pushed the lead to 16 at the half, and were able to grow that in the second half.
- Alabama State Athletic Strategic Communications
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Jaguars fall in nail-biter vs. Northwestern State
SHREVEPORT, La. – The Southern University men’s basketball team was unable to hold a second-half lead against Northwestern State, falling to the Demons 69-66 Saturday evening.
Eddie Reese led the Jaguars with 18 points and six rebounds, and Sidney Umude posted a double-double with 18 points and 13 rebounds. Richard Lee went 5-of-7 from downtown, scoring 15 points.
Southern controlled matters through much of the contest, carrying a 38-27 lead into the break. The Demons chipped away at the lead, but the Jaguars were able to respond as Northwestern State got within one possession on a handful of occasions.
After Umude buried a jumper to make it 56-51 Jaguars with 6:44 left, Northwestern State reeled off 10 unanswered points, capped by a LaTerrance Reed three-pointer, to make the game 61-56 Demons with 3:26 left.
The Jaguars weren’t able to get any closer than three down the stretch.
Reed led Northwestern State with 17 points. C.J. Jones scored 15 points along with four assists for the Demons, and Darian Dixon added 10 points.