HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Ivy Smith, Jr. and DeVante Jackson put up career highs in points as the Grambling State University men’s basketball team rallied from nine down in the final three minutes to force overtime and defeat Alabama A&M, 84-74, to capture a Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) regular season championship on Thursday night at T.M. Elmore Gymnasium.

Grambling State (16-14 overall, 12-5 SWAC) came into the game one-game up over idle Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Thursday with an opportunity to clinch its first SWAC regular season crown in 30 years (1988-89). With one game remaining in the regular season for both teams (Grambling State at Alabama State and Arkansas-Pine Bluff hosting Mississippi Valley State), the worst the Tigers would finish is a tie for the top spot and a share of the conference crown.

Smith led all scorers with a career-high 32 points, including a clutch 3-pointer at the buzzer to force overtime. He also added nine rebounds, four assists and three steals. Jackson tallied a career-high 22 points, on 7-of-13 shooting, with five boards, three blocks and two assists. Jason Perry-Murray registered 12 points, nine rebounds, two blocks and one assist.

De’Ederick Petty and Andre Kennedy paced Alabama A&M (2-28, 2-15) with 13 points each. Arthur Johnson chipped in 12 points, six boards, two steals and two assists.

Courtesy: GSU Athletics