Dominance after halftime leads Grambling to NCAA Tournament win

In a matter of four days, Grambling State qualified for it's first ever NCAA Tournament and picked up it's first win in the tourney with an 88-81 victory over Montana State

DAYTON, Ohio (KTAL/KMSS) — In a matter of four days, Grambling State qualified for it's first ever NCAA Tournament and picked up it's first win in the tourney with an 88-81 victory over Montana State in overtime Wednesday night in the First Four.

Trailing by nine points at the break the Tigers outscored the Bobcats 55-39 in the 2nd half and overtime.

Jimel Cofer led the way for Grambling with 19 points, while Jourdan Smith and Antwan Burnett poured in 18 points a piece in the victory.

Shreveport native and Woodlawn grad Tra'Michael Moton was a steady hand leading the Tigers offense, finishing with six points, pulling down six rebounds and dishing out four assists.

Moton set the tone in the overtime period hitting a jumper just :15 seconds in to give the Tigers the lead. Smith's rim rattling dunk with less than a minute to play sparked a 10-3 run to close out the game.

Grambling doesn't have long to celebrate the victory as they'll take on Midwest Region No. 1 seed Purdue in Indianapolis, Indiana on Friday.

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