Arkansas-Pine Bluff opened the scoring in the first quarter with a 30-yard field goal by Jamie Gillan to cap an 8-play, 46-yard drive, giving the Golden Lions a 3-0 lead with 2:25 remaining.
A 5-yard touchdown pass from Hickbottom to Dorrell James gave the Tigers a 7-3 advantage with 9:50 left in the first half. However, the Golden Lions took a 9-7 lead into the half after Dejuan Miller caught a 7-yard touchdown pass from Perry with just 18 seconds left in the second.
All it took was just two plays at the beginning of the third quarter to set the tone for a wild finish as LaDarrian Ellis-Jones busted straight up the middle for 74 yards to give Grambling State a 14-9 lead with 14:13 left in the period. But just as fast as GSU scored, Arkansas-Pine Bluff answered as Taeyler Porter rushed 75 yards to the endzone to give the Golden Lions a 16-14 lead with 13:57 remaining.
Grambling State capped a 9-play, 71-yard drive on its next offensive possession as Lyndemian Brooks rushed 44 yards to the end zone to put GSU back on top at 21-16 with 9:46 left. However, Porter scored on a 21-yard run to put Arkansas-Pine Bluff back in front, 23-21, with 2:46 remaining in the period.
After a turnover, Hickbottom went up top to Guice for a 35-yard touchdown to give GSU a 28-23 advantage with 28 seconds left in the third.
Back came Arkansas-Pine Bluff as Porter rushed three yards for the score as the Golden Lions converted the 2-point conversion to grab a 31-28 lead.
Grambling State answered, but this time it came from the defense as Linwood Banks got the strip sack and went 20 yards to the end zone to put the Tigers back on top, 35-31. However, the Golden Lions put together a 10-play, 80-yard drive with Miller catching a 5-yard pass from Perry, with 4:05 left, which set the stage for the come-from-behind victory.
Courtesy: GSU Sports Information
