The Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Men’s Basketball regular season Champions Southern University faced off against last year SWAC tournament Champion Grambling State in a hard-fought defensive matchup that looked like Southern University was going to walk away with a third win against the Tigers this season.
Southern University SWAC Men’s Basketball Coach of the Year Kevin Johnson had the Jaguars team playing on a string defensively in the first half, building an 8-point lead that increased to 14 points early in the third quarter, but Grambling refused to go away. Grambling State PJ Edwards was all over the court, making his defensive presence felt with key stops, helping the Tigers cut into the Jaguars’ lead.
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The Southern Jaguars’ inability to get the ball inbounds late in the game allowed Grambling to steal the ball and tie the game, forcing overtime. Grambling State Louis Hutchinson and Mikale Stevenson made two key three-point baskets to gain a 5-point lead with under a minute to play in overtime. The Jaguars cut the lead to 3 points. There were 3.6 seconds left in the game when Jaguars Cam Amboree attempted a three-point shot that Grambling State PJ Edward blocked moving the Tigers Men’s Basketball team onto the SEMIFINALS to play the winner of the Alabama State vs Texas Southern game.