Grambling State Pulls Off Massive Upset Against Southern In SWAC Tournament

SWAC Men's Basketball Tournament will be wide open after Southern falls to the G-Men!

Donte' Jackson / Credit: ESPN

More massive upsets are happening in the postseason of HBCU Basketball. At the 2025 Starry SWAC Men's Basketball Tournament, No. 8 Grambling State defeated No. 1 Southern, 65-62, in overtime at the quarterfinals at Gateway Center in College Park, Georgia.

Coach Donte' Jackson said his team won, "The Grambling Way!" Toughness, Sacrifice. It took it all, everything we had. It's a hell of a team over there [referring to Southern]...but our guys have been here [before] and wanted it."

Grambling State Defeats Southern, 65-62 / Credit: ESPN

After Southern's guard Michael Jacobs stole from GSU guard Kintavious Dozier, Noel Brentay broke away to dunk the ball, tying the game with just two seconds remaining.

The clock ran out in regulation, leading to an overtime period between last year's tournament champions, Grambling, and this season's regular season champions, the Southern Jaguars.

The G-Men would score 16 points in the extended period, hold off Southern, and create havoc in the SWAC Men's Basketball Tournament Bracket, winning 65-62.

Grambling's Mikale Stevenson was the only Tiger scoring in double figures with 12 points and grabbing four rebounds. P.J. Eason scored 9 points, and Kintavious Dozier scored six in the victory.

SWAC Mens Brackets / Credit: SWAC

The winner of Thursday's No. 4 Texas Southern and No. 5 Alabama State will face No. 8 Grambling State on Friday at 2 PM CT.

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G-MEN DEFEAT ALABAMA A&M

Grambling State University's men's basketball team cruised to a 2025 SWAC Men's Basketball opening-round victory, defeating Alabama A&M 73-56 at the Gateway Center.

The GSU Tigers were led in scoring by Mikale Stevenson with 17 points, three assists, and two rebounds. Kentavious Dozier posted 16 points, two rebounds, and two steals, while P.J. Eason scored 12 points for the G-Men.

GSU defeats AAMU / Courtesy: GSU Athletics

The defense of Alabama A&M could not prevent a 15-of-30 (50%) first-half shooting performance by Grambling State. The Tigers also led by 14 points with 1:06 left in the period.

GSU marched out to a 41-30 advantage at intermission. Alabama A&M struggled to score in the paint with 10 points compared to GSU's 32 points.

Grambling State advances to the next round to square off against Texas Southern, which they defeated in last year's SWAC Men's Tournament game. The squads traded wins at home during the regular season.

STANDOUT PERFORMERS

Grambling State

• Mikale Stevenson: 17 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists
• Kintavious Dozier: 16 points, 6 assists, 2 rebounds
• PJ Eason: 12 points, 7 rebounds, 2 steals

Alabama A&M

• Quincy McGriff: 10 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist
• AC Bryant: 9 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal

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SWAC Men's Basketball Tournament: How To Watch, Game Schedules, Predictions

The Southwestern Athletic Conference slate of games for the 2025 SWAC Men's Basketball Tournament will tip off at 2:00 PM ET on Tuesday, Mar. 11.

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Men's Tournament Schedule (All times in CDT)

• March 11 - 2:00 PM: Game One - No. 8 Grambling State vs. No. 9 Alabama A&M; 8:30 PM: Game Two - No. 7 Florida A&M vs. No. 10 Prairie View A&M
• March 12 - 2:00 PM: Game Three - No. 1 Southern vs. Winner of Game One; 8:30 PM: Game Four - No. 2 Jackson State vs. Winner of Game Two
• March 13 - 2:00 PM: Game Five - No. 4 Texas Southern vs. No. 5 Alabama State; 8:30 PM: Game Six - No. 3 Bethune-Cookman vs. No. 6 Alcorn State
• March 14 - 2:00 PM: Game Seven - Winner of Game Three vs. Winner of Game Five; 8:30 PM: Game Eight - Winner of Game Four vs. Winner of Game Six
• March 15 - 9:30 PM: Championship - Winner of Game Seven vs. Winner of Game Eight

How To Watch

• All of the scheduled men's basketball games will broadcast on ESPN +. The Championship Game will be on ESPNU.

Predictions (Games 1 and 2)

• March 11: Grambling State to defeat Alabama A&M setting up a rematch of last year's Championship game with Texas Southern. Florida A&M will overcome a pesky Prairie View A&M squad, having them to advance and face a surging Jackson State unit.

Nov 22, 2024; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Jackson State Tigers head coach Mo Williams talks to guard Marcus Watson Jr. (21) during the first half against the Kentucky Wildcats at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-Imagn Images / Jordan Prather-Imagn Images

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SWAC Men's Basketball Postseason Honors | 2024-25 Season

The Southwestern Athletic Conference announced its 2024-25 All-SWAC Men's Basketball teams and individual award winners. The all-conference honors were voted on by the league’s coaches and sports information directors. In order to be eligible for awards student-athletes must have participated in a minimum of 75 percent of their team’s games played this season.

Nov 7, 2024; Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Southern University Jaguars head coach Kevin Johnson talks with Southern University Jaguars guard Jordan Johnson (11) during the first half at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images / Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images

Coach of the Year

Kevin Johnson, Southern
 

Nov 19, 2024; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Florida A&M Rattlers guard Sterling Young (4) dribbles the ball past Florida Gators guard Will Richer (5) during the first half at Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center. Mandatory Credit: Morgan Tencza-Imagn Images / Morgan Tencza-Imagn Images

Player of the Year

Sterling Young, Florida A&M

Nov 20, 2024; College Station, Texas, USA; Southern University Jaguars guard Andre Nunley (9) dribbles the ball during the first half against the Texas A&M Aggies at Reed Arena. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images / Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images

Defensive Player of the Year

Andre Nunley, Southern

Nov 11, 2024; College Park, Maryland, USA; Florida A&M Rattlers guard Milton Matthews (5) dribbles to the basket against Maryland Terrapins guard Selton Miguel (9) during the first half at Xfinity Center. Mandatory Credit: Reggie Hildred-Imagn Images / Reggie Hildred-Imagn Images

Newcomer of the Year

Milton Matthews, Florida A&M

Nov 22, 2024; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Jackson State Tigers guard Dorian McMillian (1) shoots the ball during the first half against the Kentucky Wildcats at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-Imagn Images / Jordan Prather-Imagn Images

Freshman of the Year

Dorian McMillian, Jackson State
 

Dec 17, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Prairie View A&M Panthers guard Tanahj Pettway (11) shoots the ball against the UCLA Bruins in the first half at Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images / Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

All-SWAC First Team

Trey Thomas, Bethune-Cookman
Sterling Young, Florida A&M
Amarr Knox, Alabama State
Michael Jacobs, Southern
Tanahj Pettway, Prairie View A&M
 

Xavier Musketeers guard Dayvion McKnight (20) gets pressure from Texas Southern Tigers guard Kavion McClain (2) in the first half Monday, November 4, 2024 at the Cintas Center. / Cara Owsley/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

All-SWAC Second Team

TJ Madlock, Alabama State
Daniel Rouzan, Bethune-Cookman
Kavion McClain, Texas Southern
AC Bryant, Alabama A&M
Shannon Grant, Jackson State

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SWAC Men's Basketball Brackets Set As Southern Tips Off Tournament At No. 1

The Southwestern Athletic Conference has announced its 2025 Starry SWAC Men’s Basketball Tournament presented by Buick seedings featuring the league’s top ten teams at the conclusion of regular season play.

2025 SWAC Regular Season Champion Southern enters the tournament as the No. 1 seed (15-3 SWAC).

Jackson State claimed the No. 2 seed (14-4 SWAC) while Bethune-Cookman claimed the No. 3 seed (13-5 SWAC) in the tournament followed by No. 4 seed Texas Southern (12-6 SWAC).

Southern University / Credit: SU Athletics

Alabama State is the No. 5 seed (12-6 SWAC) followed by No. 6 seed Alcorn State (11-7 SWAC).

Florida A&M (10-8 SWAC) and Grambling State (7-11 SWAC) will enter the tournament as the No. 7 and No. 8 seeds respectively.

Alabama A&M (6-12 SWAC) and Prairie View A&M (4-14) claimed the final two tournament bids and will enter the tournament as the No. 9 and No. 10 seeds respectively.

In the event of a tie in conference records the league’s tiebreaker policy was used to determine final seedings.

The 2025 Starry SWAC Men’s Basketball Tournament presented by Buick is scheduled to be played on March 11-15 at Gateway Center Arena located in Atlanta, Ga.

Coach Mo Williams and Jackson State Basketball Team / Credit: Jackson State Athletics

SWAC MEN'S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT SEEDING

1. Southern: 15-3
2. Jackson State: 14-4
3. Bethune-Cookman: 13-5
4. Texas Southern: 12-6
5. Alabama State: 12-6
6. Alcorn State: 11-7
7. Florida A&M: 10-8
8. Grambling State: 7-11
9. Alabama A&M: 6-12
10. Prairie View A&M: 4-14

The upcoming tournament schedule of games is listed below.

SWAC MEN’S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

March 11 2:00 pm Game One: No. 8 Grambling State vs. No. 9 Alabama A&M ESPN+

March 11 8:30 pm Game Two: No. 7 Florida A&M vs. No. 10 Prairie View A&M ESPN+

March 12 2:00 pm Game Three: No. 1 Southern vs. Winner Game One ESPN+

March 12 8:30 pm Game Four: No. 2 Jackson State vs. Winner Game Two ESPN+

March 13 2:00 pm Game Five: No. 4 Texas Southern vs. No. 5 Alabama State ESPN+

March 13 8:30 pm Game Six: No. 3 Bethune-Cookman vs. No. 6 Alcorn State ESPN+

March 14 2:00 pm Game Seven: Winner Game Three vs. Winner Game Five ESPN+

March 14 8:30 pm Game Eight: Winner Game Four vs. Winner Game Six ESPN+

March 15 9:30 pm Championship: Winner Game Seven vs. Winner Game Eight ESPNU

All times listed Eastern Standard Time (EST)

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