Box Score
BIRMINGHAM, Ala.- Tra'Michael Moton scored a career-high 26 points to help Grambling State defeat Bethune-Cookman 65-53 in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Men's Basketball Tournament semifinals.
To go along with his solid scoring night Moton also added six rebounds, three assists and two steals.
The win secured GSU's second straight trip to the SWAC Title game appearance. Grambling State (19-14) now seeks its first-ever trip to the NCAA Division I tourney.
With the game squared up at 8-8, GSU used a 9-1 run to take a 17-9 lead with 7:44 remaining until halftime. After grabbing a 24-17 lead, GSU closed the half on a massive 22-2 run to take a commanding 44-19 advantage into the half.
Tra'Michael Moton was spectacular in the opening half, scoring 15 points on of 5-of-7 shooting from the field. All of Moton's baskets came from behind the arc.
Just as impressive as GSU's offense was in the first half, the Tigers defense was equally ferocious, limiting BCU to 20.0 percent shooting (5-for-25), including 0-for-7 from three-point range. The Wildcats also turned the ball over seven times.
BCU (17-16) did its best to climb back into the game, outscoring GSU 34-21 in the second stanza, but it was too little and too late to overcome the early onslaught from the Tigers.
Bethune-Cookman was led offensively by Jakobi Heady who contributed 17 points, nine boards, a block and a steal.
Grambling State awaits the winner of Friday night's semifinal contest between No. 3 Texas Southern and No. 7 Alabama A&M. Saturday's SWAC Championship game with tip off set for 8:30 p.m. on ESPNU.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- Grambling State went 20-of-48 from the floor (41.7 percent), 7-of-15 (46.7 percent) from three-point range and 18-for-31 (58.1 percent) from the free throw line.
- Kintavious Dozier also scored in double-figures with 12 points and four rebounds.
- Bethune-Cookman shot 30.4 percent (17-of-58) and 29.3 percent (4-of-15) from behind the arc and 93.8 percent (15-of-16) from the charity stripe.
- BCU held a 38-36 rebounding advantage.
- The Tigers finished with 22 points in the paint, 11 bench points, 10 fastbreak points, four second chance points and 11 points off 11 turnovers.
- The Wildcats scored 24 points in the paint, 22 bench points, six fastbreak points and six points off 12 turnovers.
About the SWAC
The Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) is considered one of the premier HBCU conferences in the country and currently ranks among the elite in the nation in terms of HBCU alumni playing with professional sports teams.
Current championship competition offered by the league includes competition for men in Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Indoor Track and Field, Outdoor Track and Field, and Tennis.
Women’s competition is offered in the sports of Basketball, Bowling, Cross Country, Golf, Indoor Track and Field, Outdoor Track and Field, Soccer, Softball, Tennis, and Volleyball.
Follow the SWAC
For complete coverage of the Southwestern Athletic Conference, please follow the SWAC on social media at @TheSWAC (Twitter), @TheSWAC (Facebook), and @TheSWAC (Instagram) or visit the official home of the Southwestern Athletic Conference at
www.swac.org.