GRAMBLING, La.—The Alabama State University men's basketball team has arrived in Grambling as the Hornets will face Grambling State Tuesday, Jan. 3 at 7:30 p.m.
 
ASU (3-9) will face a Tiger (0-10) team that has yet to win a game this season, but, like the Hornets, have played a strong preconference schedule that has seen them face teams like Houston, Ole Miss, Arkansas, Texas Tech and Texas Christian.
 
Even though both teams have not started the season the way they wanted, head coach Lewis Jackson knows the stakes are going up as the conference season is ready to begin.
 
“It is an exciting time as we get ready to embark on our second season within a season with conference play,” head coach Lewis Jackson said.  “Everybody is in the race for the conference title and we are just excited to be down here in Grambling and have an opportunity to come out and get one on the road.”
 
GSU has a few transfers that have only been with the team a short time, but have the ability to make a difference.  Quincy Roberts, a transfer from St. John's, has only played the past two games with the Tigers but he scored 28 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in GSU's last outing against Texas Christian.  Bryant Purvis is a transfer from Southeastern Louisiana has started eight games, and the team's second leading scorer Xavier Rogers is averaging over nine points per outing.
 
As usual, the Hornets will face a taller team led by the Tigers 7' center Peter Roberson.  GSU also has a 6'-8” forward and a 6'-7” guard that can cause the Hornets trouble due to the size differential.
 
ASU hopes to counter with the inside tandem of Philip Crawford and Luther Page.  Between them, they average 13.6 points and 11.8 rebounds per game.
 
“We know it is going to be tough because they are big and athletic and it will be a tall order, but it is one we are certainly one we welcome and look forward to playing,” Jackson added.
 
ASU also hopes the senior tandem of Kenderek Washington (15.0 ppg), Tramaine Butler (11.6 ppg) and Ivory White (9.0 ppg) can continue to have a hot hand from the field.
 
ASU has played 10 games on the road and have only been able to win two of those, so the Hornets are looking to change that trend now that conference action is starting.
 
“Opening up on the road gives you a great opportunity because whoever wins the regular season is the team that is going to be able to go out and win on the road,” Jackson said.  “So it is a great opportunity for us to go out and start on the road and it lets us know we will be able to finish our last couple of games at home.”