Hayes Has Career Night As Tigers Grind Out Road Win At Grambling State

GRAMBLING, La. – TSU used a 22-9 second half run to overcome a double-digit deficit as they defeated Grambling State 54-52 Monday night inside the Hobdy Assembly Center.
 
Entering Monday’s game, previous history indicated the game would be close as six of the past 14 games have been decided by three points or less. And history was right again as this one came down to the wire as both teams were meeting for the first time since last year’s SWAC Tournament Championship.
 
Both teams were close to begin the contest until a 10-3 run by Grambling State saw them move ahead 18-10 at the 9:50 mark. A 6-0 run by TSU narrowed the gap to 18-16 but Grambling State countered with a 9-4 surge to up the margin to 27-18 with 1:58 left. TSU’s Jaylen Wysinger would connect on a free throw and pick up a big steal and basket in transition with 10 seconds left as TSU cut the deficit to 27-21 at the half.
 
Grambling Stat controlled the first 11 minutes of the second stanza by outscoring the Tigers 14-9 as TSU was only 3-of-11 from the field while the deficit increased to 11 with 9:33 left. Wysinger’s jumper cut the margin to 41-32 but GSU upped it back to 11 two possessions later.
 
A trey from Wysinger cut the lead to 43-35 but GSU’s Tra’Michael Moton countered with a jumper for a 45-35 margin with 7:30 left. From that point, TSU began to attack the basket and had much success as Zaire Hayes, Kenny Hunter and Jonathan Cisse combined to score 15 of the next 17 points as TSU outscored Grambling State 17-2 over the next 6:44. On the defensive end, Grambling State struggled from the field with one only one shot made.
 
After a three-pointer from Hayes at the 3:22 mark which gave TSU its first lead since the game began, the Tigers continued to shine as Cisse’s turnaround with 2:22 left upped the lead to 48-45. Grambling State hit a layup on the ensuing possession to get within one but Cisse hit two free throws for a 50-47 lead.
 
Grayson Carter came up big defensively with a block at the 1:22 mark and Zaire Hayes extended the possession on the offensive end with an offensive rebound. After a replay review off a missed shot, TSU went up by five on a solid inbound play which saw Hunter cut to the basket and score for a 52-47 lead.
 
Moton connected on a three-point play with nine seconds left but Hayes iced the game with two free throws with six seconds left.
 
Making his first start at TSU, Hayes scored a career-high 16 points with eight rebounds. Playing 68 miles from his hometown of Shreveport, La., Hunter scored 10 points with three blocks while Wysinger added eight points. Cisse had a team-high six assists coupled with seven rebounds from Zytarious Mortle.
 
TSU is back in action on Saturday at home against UAPB for a 5:30 p.m. tip-off.