By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports
Conference play is in full swing as teams pass the midseason point of the season, and both of Grambling’s hoop squads are finding success – no small feat for the Lady Tigers, who were overmatched against a stacked non-conference slate before turning the page at New Year’s Day.
Here’s a quick look at our area NCAA Division I teams.
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LOUISIANA TECH: The Bulldogs (10-6, 3-2 in Conference USA) are playing them close. Their last three games have been decided on the final possession or in overtime, including last Saturday’s 60-58 home win over UTEP settled by a defensive stop at the buzzer. Eight of Tech’s 16 games have a winning margin of six points or less. Cobe Williams is averaging 18 points in five league games.
Next game: Tech is in Denton, Texas, for tonight’s 7 o’clock contest at North Texas (13-3, 4-1). The Mean Green have won eight of their last nine, losing only to C-USA leader FAU. The Tech-UNT series is tense: 11 of the last 12 games have been decided by seven or less, and five of those came down to the final possession.
GRAMBLING: The Tigers (10-6, 3-1) are starting to show up in bracketology as the likely Southwestern Athletic Conference representative in the NCAA Tournament. Their wins over Colorado and Vanderbilt are impressive. They’re winning tough games in league play, the latest a 62-57 victory at home Monday night over Florida A&M as Shawdarius Cowart scored 18.
Next game: Saturday afternoon at 3, visiting Southern.
NORTHWESTERN STATE: The Demons’ best game of the year came just in time. NSU (9-7, 1-2 in the Southland Conference) mangled Nicholls 68-48 at Prather Coliseum last Saturday in what new coach Corey Gipson acknowledged was his squad’s best performance so far. It ended a five-game skid, the last a solid drubbing at McNeese on Joe Dumars Night as the Cowboys named their court for the Natchitoches native and NBA legend. Sparking the Demons in Saturday’s impressive outing was freshman Jalen Hampton, who hit all eight of his shots in a season-best 18-point outing.
Next game: Northwestern gets a second chance at McNeese, this time at home Thursday at 8.
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GRAMBLING: As predicted in this notebook, the tough non-conference slate is paying off for the Lady Tigers, 1-10 before Southwestern Athletic Conference play. Grambling (4-11, 3-1) is off to a strong conference start. Monday night, the Lady Tigers won 71-68 in overtime at home over FAMU as Leah Morrow had a sensational stat line – 17 points, 11 rebounds and 7 steals. Guard Colbi Maples won Boxtrorow Media HBCU National Player of the Week last week. The sophomore averaged 19.3 points in three games, including a 32-point outing in a win at Texas Southern.
Next game: It’s a trip to the Bluff for a Saturday afternoon 12:30 showdown with Southern.
LOUISIANA TECH: The Techsters (9-6, 2-3) have been hampered by an injury that has sidelined dynamic post player Anna Larr Roberson for the last four games. A 72-66 loss at UTEP, giving the Lady Miners a season sweep in Conference USA, was the latest frustration.
Next game: The Lady Techsters get their only homecourt game until Jan. 26 tonight at 6 in the Thomas Assembly Center. North Texas (4-10, 1-3) visits.
NORTHWESTERN STATE: The Lady Demons picked up their first Southand win last Saturday at home by flipping the script. After squandering a lead with sloppy ball-handling and going scoreless in the final five minutes last Thursday at McNeese, NSU (5-8, 1-2) scored 11 fourth-quarter points off seven Nicholls turnovers in a 67-58 triumph.
Next game: Thursday at home, 5:30 vs. McNeese.
Contact Doug at sbjdoug@gmail.com