GRAMBLING, La.- B-CU's first true SWAC road trip is at hand as the Wildcats get set to head to Louisiana, 
 


Saturday, January 11 | 5:30 p.m. EST
Opponent: Grambling State (3-12, 0-2 SWAC)
Time: 5:30 p.m. EST
Location: Grambling, La. | Fredrick C. Hobdy Assembly Center
Tickets: https://gsutigers.com/common/controls/adhandler.aspx?ad_id=11&target=https://am.ticketmaster.com/grambling/
Watch: https://www.youtube.com/@GramblingStateAthletics
Live Stats: https://gsutigers.com/sidearmstats/mbball/summary

Monday, January 13 | 8 p.m. EST
Opponent: Southern (7-8, 2-0 SWAC)
Time: 8 p.m. EST
Location: Southern, La. | F.G. Clark Activity Center
Tickets: https://gojagsports.com/sports/2024/4/1/2024-25-basketball-seating-pricing-chart.aspx
Watch: https://jaguarsportsnetwork.com/
Live Stats:https://gojagsports.com/sidearmstats/mbball/summary



In a game that featured 11 lead changes, the Wildcats emerged 1-0 in Southwestern Athletic Conference play with a 62-55 win over rival Florida A&M, Saturday night in the state capitol. 

FIRST HALF

It was the Rattlers who jumped in front first, riding a pair of threes to go up, 12-4 through six minutes of play. 

The Wildcats immediately responded with a 12-3 run with a few threes of their own to take their first lead of the game at 16-15. 

The two teams traded leads until a Kalil Camara three with two minutes in the half put B-CU up, 28-24. After a pair of technical fouls saw each side shoot free throws, Jesus Carralero Martin drained both to send the Cats to the break up 30-27.

SECOND HALF

Brayon Freeman's layup made it a six point B-CU advantage out of the break, which held until six straight from FAMU after the first media timeout of the half tied things up at 39-39 with 13 to play. 

Seneca Willoughby's three and a Reggie Ward Jr. layup made it a five point lead again, but Jamine Charles gave FAMU its first lead of the half at 45-44 with eight to go. 

The team's battled back-and-fort again, but a Daniel Rouzan dunk and Brayon Freeman circus shot layup put the cats in front again. They never relinquished that lead as B-CU held on, 62-55. 



Grambling State is 3-12 on the season. The Tigers went winless in their first SWAC weekend, with losses at Prairie View A&M and an OT loss at Texas Southern. The Tigers have yet to win a DI game this season, albeit with a tough non-conference schedule featuring trips to Ole Miss, Florida, New Mexico, USC, and Cincinnati.

The Tigers own the SWAC's best defense, allowing only 72.3 points per game while holding opponents to only 43 percent shooting and 35 percent from deep. 

Offensively, the Tigers rank in the middle-of-the-pack in the conference, scoring 68.5 points per game. Grambling is shooting 45 percent from the field and 35 percent from three shooting nearly seven per game. 

Junior forward Antwan Burnett leads the Tigers offensively with 12.5 points per game, as well as a team-high 5.6 rebounds per game. Two other Tigers average in double figures - Mikale Stevenson averages 11, while 2023-24 All-SWAC performer Kintavious Dozier averages just over 10. 

Southern is a league-leading 7-8 on the year, and 2-0 in SWAC play. Southern's non-conference wins include Louisiana Tech and Tulsa - they swept a Texas trip last weekend, beating Texas Southern, Prairie View A&M. 

Southern fields the third-best offense in the SWAC, averaging 76.2 points per game. The Jags defense has also been excellent, averaging 72.5 allowed to opponents. The Jags shoot 44 percent from the floor, allowing the same to opponents. Southern averages a 30 percent clip from three, shooting only seven per game. 

Southern does not feature a scorer in the SWAC's top 15, with sophomore guard Jordan Johnson leading the way at 10.5 per game. Senior forward Derrick Tezeno leads the Jags on the boards with five per game. 



Saturday marks the 14th meeting between Grambling State and B-CU. The Wildcats have won only two of those games, and have lost six straight to the Tigers.

Monday marks the 11th meeting between Southern and B-CU. The two teams are tied at five wins a piece in the series, with B-CU winning each of the last four. 


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