Sports

Johnson has career night in home victory

Junior guard Lasani Johnson scored a career-high 30 points against Centenary college. Raven LeDay/The Gramblinite

Lasani Johnson poses for a picture during practice earlier this season. Raven LeDay/The Gramblinite

Success on the basketball court comes natural for Grambling State basketball junior guard Lasani Johnson.

Johnson is the son of the NBA 1991 first overall pick Larry Johnson,who is well known for his alter ego “Grandmama.”

The junior guard scored a career-high 30 points, as GSU men’s basketball team defeated Centenary (La.) college 81-57, on Tuesday night at the Fredrick C. Hobdy Assembly Center.

Grambling State (4-4), was led by Johnson who only missed four shots from the field in 33 minutes of action.

He also drained a career-best seven 3-pointers, shooting 7-for-10 from behind the arc. Johnson also leads the team in feild goals made in a game with 11.
Dallas Polk- Hilliard registered 17 points, while Prince Moss chipped in nine points.

Defensively, Travon Bunch led Grambling State with a career-high and game-high 11 rebounds.

The Tigers jumped out to a commanding 19-7 advantage with 10 minutes remaining in the half, while shooting 50 percent from the floor and registering 44 rebounds in the matchup.

The Gents responded with a run of their own to cut the deficit to 19-12.

GSU used a 15-2 run over the next four minutes to take a commanding 37-21 advantage at the half.

That would be as close as Centenary would get, as Grambling State used a 28-8 run in the second half to cruise to the victory.

Kaharri Carter led Centenary (1-7) with 11 points.

Grambling State finished with 34 points in the paint, with the bench chipping in  26  points on the night.

The Gents pulled down 37 rebounds, including 13 coming on the offensive end.

 GSU returns to action Saturday, as the Tigers visit the University of Central Florida in Orlando.

Tip-off against the Knights is set for 12 p.m. Central.

The Tigers will then travel to to Louisiana-Monroe on Tuesday, Dec. 11, before facing Southeastern Louisiana  at home on Wednesday, Dec. 19.