Posted: January 11, 2009Ariece Perkins scored 21 points, including the game-winner with one second left, to give Grambling State its first SWAC win of the year in a 55-53 win over rival Southern University on Saturday evening in the Assembly Center.
Grambling, which led 26-21 at the half, held a seven-point lead less than five minutes into the second half but watched the lead evaporate as Southern went on an 8-0 run to claim a 35-34 margin at the 14:28 mark after a Chris Davis dunk.
From that point, the contest turned into the traditional Grambling State/SU slugfest as neither team led by more than four points through the remainder of the game.
With the game tied at 46-all with 4:50 remaining, SU’s Ernest Jones nailed 1-of-2 free throws from the charity stripe to move the Jaguars on top 47-46. Grambling forward Jared Riley answered with a jumper to put GSU back on top several seconds later but Jones tied (48-48) it for the fourth time in the half with a free throw at the 4:02 mark.
Grambling took a 50-48 advantage following a jumper by Perkins with 3:38 left in regulation. Both teams went cold over the next three minutes until SU guard Steffon Wiley nailed a three-pointer with 48 seconds left for a 51-50 Jaguar advantage.
Grambling’s Donald Qualls responded with a basket to put GSU back ahead 52-51 with 22 ticks left but a Chris Davis jumper moved Southern back on top 53-52 with only 12 seconds remaining.
The Southern defense tightened over the final 12 seconds and kept Grambling from getting an open look at the basket. As time winded down, Perkins gained control of the ball and floated the shot over the arms of three Southern defenders to give Grambling State head coach Rick Duckett his first career SWAC win.
Perkins led all scorers with 21 points followed by 11 points from Andrew Prestley. Marcus Coleman led Grambling with eight rebounds along with two blocked shots each by Jared Riley and Corrie Austin.
Julius Ingram and Davis topped Southern with 12 points apiece.
Grambling returns to action on Monday night with a match-up versus Alcorn State at 7:30 p.m. in the Assembly Center .