Alabama St ends 20-game skid, beats Grambling 74-66

Jan 4, 2018, 04:07 pm

GRAMBLING, La. -- Branden Johnson scored 11 of his 13 points in the second half and grabbed 10 rebounds to rally Alabama State to its first win of the season Wednesday night, 74-66 over Grambling State that also ended a 20-game losing streak.

Jacoby Ross led the Hornets (1-13, 1-1 Southwest Athletic Conference) with 14 points, Reginald Gee had 11 and Ed Jones 10.

Grambling State (4-11, 1-1) made 13 of 20 shots and went 12 of 19 from the foul line to race to a 40-33 halftime lead. Alabama State shot just 24 percent (9 of 38).

The script flipped in the second half with the Hornets making 14 of 29 and the Tigers going 1 of 9 from distance and 8 of 33 overall (24 percent). Grambling also struggled from the line, making just 9 of 16.

Ross tied the game at 57 with 5 minutes left and after a turnover Johnson had a putback. Grambling missed two free throws and Jones scored on a tip in. The Hornets made 6 of 8 free throws down the stretch.

Ivy Smith Jr. had 17 points and Axel Impoyo 13 for Grambling, which lost to Alabama A&M in its previous game, the first win of the season for the Bulldogs, who had lost 16 straight.