Grambling defeats Texas Southern 84-67
Grambling Takes Down Texas Southern Behind Coffee's Dominant Performance
In a closely contested conference matchup, the Grambling State Tigers (20-8) emerged victorious over visiting Texas Southern University (15-9), 84-67, at the Fredrick C. Hobdy Assembly Center on Tuesday night.
The home team took control of the game from the start, leading by as many as 23 points in the first half before Texas Southern managed to cut the deficit to just three with less than a minute remaining in the period. The Tigers' strong performance was largely fueled by their star player, Roderick Coffee III, who poured in 21 points, including five make from beyond the arc.
Coffee's impressive shooting display earned him a well-deserved spot as Grambling's top performer of the night. He also chipped in with seven rebounds, two assists, and two steals, showcasing his all-around skills that made him nearly unbeatable for Texas Southern's defense.
On the other side of the court, Zaire Hayes led Texas Southern with 25 points but struggled from beyond the arc, shooting just five-for-seven (83.3% FT) on a relatively high volume of attempts. Troy Hupstead added 11 points off the bench for the visiting Eagles.
Grambling's balanced attack allowed them to outscore their opponents in nearly every area of the game. They shot an efficient 49.0% from the field, connecting on 15-of-27 two-pointers and 12-of-28 three-point attempts. The team also secured a significant edge on the glass, grabbing 33 rebounds compared to Texas Southern's 25.
The difference in defensive intensity was also stark, with Grambling holding Texas Southern to just 38.0% shooting from beyond the arc (8-for-21) and limiting them to fewer than half of their expected pace through turnovers and fouls.
Grambling State now moves on to face another tough conference opponent this weekend, while Texas Southern looks to bounce back in their next outing.