Tabb’s 26 Lift B-CU Men's Basketball Over Grambling State At Home, 87-78

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Bethune-Cookman University returned to Moore Gymnasium where Brandon Tabb scored 26 on 6-9 shooting from behind the arc to snap a three-game losing streak and defeat the Grambling State Tigers, 87-78, on Tuesday night.

BCU (2-3) struggled to find its rhythm for majority of the game; however, when the Wildcats did so, they dominated the Tigers gaining a 17-point lead after Malik Maitland's fast break layup; 80-63 with 4:59 remaining.

The Tigers (0-4) responded with a 15-5 run to close the gap to 85-78 after Diontae Jones' jumper with 19 seconds remaining; however, Houston Smith iced the game converting two from the free-throw line with 15.8 remaining.

In the first half, Grambling State jumped to an early 9-1 lead in less than four minutes. Tabb and Isaiah Bailey, however, each responded with a trio of three-pointers, helping B-CU gain its first double-digit lead, 31-20, with 6:52 left in the half. The Wildcats won the first half 42-35.

In the second half both teams got into early foul trouble. An unpleasant scenario for BCU, who shot only 50% (14.5% below season average) from the line for the game and had to sit Mid Eastern Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week, Shawntrez Davis, who racked up his fourth foul with 13:16 to play.

Maitland flirted with a triple double recording 8 points, 9 rebounds and 10 assists. Alongside Tabb, three more BCU players scored in double figures. Bailey had 14, Davis had 11 points and 9 rebounds; meanwhile Soufiyane Diakite recorded 10 points and 8 rebounds.

Jones scored 20 for the Tigers; Ivy Smith Jr. had 18.

The Wildcats will stay at home to face Florida College (6-2) at 4 p.m. on Saturday in the Moore Gymnasium.

By Augustinas Navickas