Grambling State men’s basketball made history on Wednesday by clinching its first-ever NCAA tournament victory in program history. The No. 16-seeded Tigers secured an 88-81 overtime win against fellow No. 16 seed Montana State in the First Four.
Guard Jimel Cofer stole the spotlight with a standout performance, scoring 19 points, a significant leap from his season average of 2.8 points. His stellar play fueled an incredible comeback for the team.
Senior guard Jourdan Smith contributed 18 points and nine rebounds, while forward Antwan Burnett added another 18 points to bolster the Tigers’ victory.
Reflecting on his standout performance, Cofer credited his teammates, highlighting their collective support and the team’s ability to rally together. “Anybody on this team can get hot at any time. It was just my night,” he expressed, as reported by Sports Illustrated.
Grambling State head coach Donte’ Jackson described the win as “incredible,” emphasizing the spirit of March Madness and the team’s resilience. “You got to find a way to fight. Stay in the game and have one last run,” he remarked during the truTV broadcast.
Next up, the Tigers will face the formidable challenge of the No. 1-seeded Purdue Boilermakers on Friday in Indianapolis in the first round of the Midwest Regional.
Despite the daunting task ahead, Jackson, who was named the 2023-24 SWAC coach of the year, emphasized the team’s focus on the immediate task at hand. “We just need to figure it out. We let the chips fall where they may. They ain’t expect us to win this one,” he stated, acknowledging the underdog status while maintaining determination and focus for the next matchup.
