Mississippi Valley State Men's Basketball (3-18, 1-6) at Jackson State (7-13, 4-3); Grambling State (9-11, 3-4)
Date(s): Saturday, February 2, 2019; Monday, February 4, 2019
Time(s): 5:30 p.m. (CT); 8:05 (CT) ESPNU
Facility: Lee E. Williams Athletic & Assembly Center (Jackson, MS); Fredrick C. Hobdy Assembly Center (Grambling, LA)
 
PROBABLE STARTERS: G Jordan Evans (6-2, Sr., 11.6 ppg, 1.9 rpg); G Gregory Jones-Rollins (6-2, Sr., 12.3 ppg, 3.4 rpg); G Michael Green (6-3, Jr., 7.3 ppg, 1.7 rpg); C Aleksa Koracin (7-0, Jr., 5.5 ppg, 4.7 rpg); C Emmanuel Ejeh (6-8, Sr., 6.1 ppg, 7.1 rpg).
 
DELTA DEVILS OVERVIEW: Mississippi Valley State starts its four-game road trip against a pair of Tigers beginning on Feb. 2 against Jackson State. Next, the Delta Devils travel to Grambling on Feb. 4, for a nationally televised game on ESPNU. The Delta Devils are coming off two losses at home to Prairie View (89-78) and Texas Southern (65-62) last weekend. MVSU is seeking their first road conference win of the season after an 0-3 start. Gregory Jones-Rollins currently leads the Delta Devils in scoring (12.3 ppg) followed by Jordan Evans (11.6 ppg) and rounded out by Dante Scott (11.5). Emmanuel Ejeh leads the team's rebounding efforts with 7.1 rpg. In the conference, the Delta Devils rank first in offensive rebounds per game (11.86) while ranking second in fewest turnovers (274) and personal fouls per game (17.8). Ejeh ranks in the top five in defensive rebounds per game (4.76), offensive rebounds per game (2.38), and total rebounds (150).
 
JACKSON STATE OVERVIEW: Jackson State (7-13, 4-3) is 4-1 at home and 2-0 against SWAC opponents in the Lee E. Williams Athletic & Assembly Center this season. The Tigers only home lost was to Sam Houston State (75-60). Under the direction of fifth year head coach Wayne Brent, Jackson State went 12-20 last season with a 9-10 finish in the SWAC. The Tigers lead the conference in rebound margin (1.3) and scoring defense (67.5), while ranking second in field-goal percentage (42.3) and total blocks (68). They sit in the top-three in blocked shots per game (3.4), defensive rebounds per game (25.5), and total rebounds per game (36.25). Jayveous McKinnis leads the SWAC in blocked shots per game (1.71) and in total blocks (29), while ranking second in offensive rebounds (2.94). Chris Howell leads the conference in total rebounds (172), rebounds per game (8.6), and double-doubles (7) while ranking second in defensive rebounds per game (6.65). Howell (11.7 ppg) and Venjie Wallis (11.5 ppg) are their top scorers.
 
GRAMBLING STATE OVERVIEW: Grambling State (9-11, 3-4) has a 4-1 record at home this season and suffered their first home loss on Jan. 26 vs. Jackson State, 65-63. Last season, the Tigers went 17-14 on the season with 13-5 record in the conference. Grambling has two players averaging double-figures through 20 games this season led by Ivy Smith (12.8 ppg) and Dallas Polk-Hilliard (12.4 ppg). Polk-Hilliard also leads the team's rebounding efforts at 6.2 per game. Under the direction of second year head coach, Donte' Jackson, the Tigers are leading the SWAC in blocked shots per game (4.4), defensive rebounds per game (28.25), field-goal percentage (44.0), field-goal percentage defense (39.9), scoring margin (0.1), three-point field goal defense (31.1), three-point field goal percentage (38.5), total blocks (88), total rebounds (758), and rebounds per game (37.9). Smith leads the conference in assists per game (4.7), free throws made (99), steals per game (1.89), total assists (84), and total steals (34). Travon Bunch ranks second and third in total blocks (27) and blocked shots per game (1.59) respectively.
 
LAST TIME OUT
MVSU dropped two tight games at home to Prairie View (89-78) and Texas Southern (65-62). Leading scorers for MVSU was Jordan Evans and Dante Scott combined for just 43 points in the two games at home. In the matchup against Prairie View, MVSU had a trio in double-figures in Michael Green (15), Jordan Evans, (14), and Dante Scott (11).
 
UP NEXT
The Delta Devils will continue road play in Alabama. The Delta Devils will play in Huntsville against Alabama A&M on February 9 and in Montgomery against Alabama State on February 11.
 
NEWS & NOTES

• Gregory Jones-Rollins paces the MVSU offense at 12.3 points and 3.4 rebounds per game, followed by Jordan Evans at 11.6 points and 1.9 boards per game and Dante Scott at 11.5 points and 4.9 rebounds per game
• MVSU through 21 games is shooting 47.1 percent from the field, 39.2 percent from beyond the arc, and 69.4 percent from the free throw line
• MVSU is averaging 40.6 rebounds per game and 16.7 assists per game
• MVSU is averaging 63.9 points per game