GRAMBLING, La. – Zaire Hayes scored a season-high 25 points but a second-half surge by Grambling State was difference in an 84-67 road loss on Monday night.
Hayes opened the game with a three-pointer for an early lead but the Tigers countered with a trey of their own to knot it at 3-all. Hayes had the hot hand with a pair of three-pointers from that point for a 9-8 lead but again Grambling State's Roderick Coffee III answered to move them ahead 11-9. Another basket by Hayes would knot it at 11-all but Coffee continued to match his production with a trey for a 14-11 GSU lead.
GSU would lead for the next few minutes but TSU regained the lead with 9:50 left after Alex Anderson's trey. GSU would tie it again but Hayes nailed his fourth trey of the half for a 23-20 margin. With 7:09 left, Coffee once again remained a thorn in TSU's side as his trey gave them a 25-23 lead. Gramblng State would create some separation over the next few minutes en route to a 32-25 lead but TSU countered with a 7-3 run of its own for a 35-32 deficit with two minutes left. TSU had chances to narrow the gap further but GSU held on for a 40-34 halftime lead as the Tigers only had one free throw attempt compared to GSU's 17.
Troy Hupstead opened the second half with a jumper to draw within 40-36 but his basket was followed by a fourth foul. Grambling State would begin to slowly pull away over the next nine minutes as they outscored the Tigers 30-11 during that span en route to a 70-47 lead. Unlike Saturday, which saw the Tigers rally to within single digits late, Grambling State maintained a comfortable lead the rest of the way for the win.
Hayes finished with 25 points while Hupstead had 11 with six rebounds.
TSU is back in action at home for its SWAC home opener Saturday at 4 p.m. against UAPB.
