Coach Price said he saw it in practice on Thursday that his guys were not ready to play on Saturday, and it showed in their 79-59 blow-out loss to Jackson State University.
The Grambling State University men’s basketball team only trailed Jackson State University (10-16, 6-8 SWAC) by three points at the end of the first half, but after they failed to register a field goal for nearly six minutes in the start of the second half, JSU ran away with the game behind Javeres Brent’s 23 points.
“I’ve been telling the kids all week we were not ready to play,” said a frustrated Price. “Very disappointing loss, very disappointing that after hard efforts last week that the kids didn’t want it more today.”
Terry Rose got off to a hot start in the Fredrick C. Hobdy Arena, scoring Grambling’s (3-20, 2-12 SWAC) first nine points on all 3-pointers as the Tigers led 9-6 at the 16:38 mark, but then it would be a tense back-and-fourth half.
Derell Taylor answered with a bucket in the paint to cut JSU’s deficit to one. A’Torri Shine put Grambling back up by three with a layup through the lane. Janarius Middelton responded with a layup to bring JSU back within one. Then after a turnover by Shine, Steven Danridge fouled Treshawn Bolden on a lay up. Bolden made the free-throw and gave Jackson a 13-11 lead with 12:07 left in the half.
With 8:07 left in the first, Grambling went back up three points as they led 20-17, but Jackson would end the half outscoring GSU 15-9 to go up 32-29.
During the run by Jackson, Grambling went on a dry spell with their last field goal coming with 4:22 left in the first half.
“Second half, we told them that you got to be ready to pop, got to be ready to go, the first five minutes is going to be crucial,” said Price.
The first five minutes of the second half was crucial and unfortunately, Grambling was not ready. Their cold streak carried over into the second half and JSU stretched their three point lead to 19. With 14:41 remaining, Jackson led 50-31. Grambling’s only points were two free-throws, one by Windale Glinton and another by Antwan Scott.
After the 18-2 run by Jackson State, Grambling was literally out of the game.