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Alabama A&M 66, Grambling State 64

January 3, 2009

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – A 16-4 run over the final six minutes of the second half by Alabama A&M turned the tide of the game as Grambling State dropped its conference opener by a margin of 66-64 in Huntsville, Ala. on Saturday night.

Grambling took control from the opening tip as they led by 10 points midway through the first half after a jumper by Jared Riley. Alabama A&M closed to within two points five minutes later but the Tigers held on and closed out the half strong with a 37-30 halftime margin.

Alabama A&M kept nipping on Grambling's heels as the second half began but the Tigers managed to hold the Bulldogs off as they eventually regained a 60-50 advantage at the 6:09 mark after Ibrahim Kpaka's 3-pointer. However, the game's momentum began to swing in favor of Alabama A&M as Grambling went into a shooting slump with only one field goal over the final six minutes.

Despite the slump, the Tigers managed to remain on top up until the game's final seconds but fell behind for the first time after AAMU's Desmond Jackson nailed a 3-pointer for a 64-63 margin with 26 seconds left on the clock. Grambling had two shots to move back on top as the game came to an end but fell short as Alabama A&M's defense recorded a blocked shot and forced a turnover on the Tigers' final two offensive possessions to win its conference opener.

Andrew Prestley topped all scorers with 15 points while Kpaka added 12. Jamal Breaux grabbed nine rebounds followed by eight boards and two blocks from Riley.

Grambling wraps up its road trip on Monday night in Montgomery, Ala. as they take on Alabama State in a nationally televised contest on ESPNU beginning at 8 p.m.

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