GRAMBLING -- The Grambling State University Tigers (6-23, 3-14 SWAC) fell short by a single point against the Mississippi Valley State University Delta Devils (7-25, 7-11 SWAC), losing 58-57.

Close is not good enough, according to head coach Shawn Walker. "We didn't play smart enough throughout the course of the game," he said minutes after the painful loss.

Playing at home at the Fredrick C. Hobdy Assembly Center for the last time this season, the defense for the Delta Devils started off strong, keeping the GSU Tigers from scoring in the first three minutes. Guard Ervin Mitchell started off the night with a 3-pointer, giving the Tigers their first basket. The Tigers remained scoreless 10 minutes into the first half, and The Valley led 20-7 with eight minutes left in the half. The Tigers shot poorly from the field, shooting 26.9 percent.  Guards Mitchell and Carlton Lowe had five points each. MVSU guard Marcus Romain had nine points leading the Delta Devils to a seven-point lead to end the first half, 27-20.

In the second half GSU's 13 turnovers led to 17 points for MVSU. The Delta Devils led by eight points with 7:22 remaining in the second half. In that time the Tigers were 13-40 from the field.  Arnold Richmond ended the game with 13 points and three steals. Mitchell and Lowe each finished with 10 points.  Mitchell had five rebounds and Lowe had three. MVSU's Romain led with 19 points and nine rebounds, and teammate Latrell Love had 10 points and three rebounds.

The Tigers defense buckled down, working to win the game. With only 26.5 seconds left, the score was 57-55 MVSU. GSU's Richmond was fouled at the 3-point line. He had a chance to send the game into overtime, but he made two of three shots, missing the third of three. The game ended 58-57 with a Mississippi Valley win.

The Tigers finish regular season conference play on the road against Alabama A&M in Huntsville, Alabama, at 7:30 p.m. Thursday (March 3) and Alabama State University Saturday (March 5).