MONTGOMERY, Ala. | Alabama State used a late second half push and four players in double figures to defeat Grambling State 78-75 in Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) play in the regular season finale.

The two teams were tied at 69-all with 2:47 to play before E.J. Clark knocked down a pair of free throws to give Alabama State a two-point lead. After Grambling State tied the game at 71-all with 2:11 to play, Clark knocked down a corner three to give the Hornets a 74-71 lead. The Tigers would get it to two before Clark knocked down four straight free throws over the final 25 seconds for the win.

Trace Young led Alabama State with 21 points off the bench, connecting on 7-of-9 shots from the floor including four three-pointers. Clark finished with 20 including knocking down all seven free throws, while Gerald Liddell finished with 15 and Kenny Strawbridge 14 (with eight rebounds).

Alabama State finished the night shooting 49.0 (24-of-49) percent from the floor and 38.1 (8-of-21) from beyond the arc, while also shooting 84.6 (22-of-26) percent from the free throw line. Meanwhile, Grambling State (11-19, 9-9 SWAC) finished the night shooting 45.9 (28-of-61) percent from the floor and 42.9 (9-of-21) percent from beyond the arc.

Cameron Christon led the Tigers with 21 points.

Alabama State (8-21, 8-10) doubled up their conference wins from a season ago but came up a game short of the conference tournament after a Jackson State victory over Mississippi Valley State on Saturday night.

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