DAYTON, Ohio — Grambling State coach Donte Jackson's past, present and future came together in Wednesday night's First Four.
Jackson returned to the area where he graduated from Central State University, where he met his wife, Shelicia, and began his coaching career in addition to basketball. After contributing to Grambling State's historic victory, he left the arena holding Shelicia's hand, but his team was still alive in the NCAA Tournament.
“I've actually coached tennis before,” Jackson said. “There were tennis players and former basketball players in the audience.”
At Jackson's “second home,” former players watched as 16th-seeded Grambling State overcame a 14-point deficit in the second half and defeated fellow 16th-seeded Montana State 88-81 in overtime. I watched over it. The Tigers advance in the Midwest and will play No. 1 seed Purdue in Indianapolis on Friday.
After 11 seasons of going 0-28, Grambling State won its first appearance in the NCAA Tournament, becoming the first team since Northwestern in 2017 to start 1-0 in the tournament.
“It's really amazing to win in the first round,” Jackson said. “This is a big exposure for our program and lets them know that they could have gone to other big schools or things of that nature, but they made the right choice by coming to Grambling. only.”
The Tigers became the ninth HBCU program to win the NCAA Tournament and the sixth since 2000. He followed an unlikely hero in sophomore guard Jimel Cofer, who scored all of his team-high 19 points in the second half in overtime. He didn't play at all in the first half, and there was a win over Texas Southern in the SWAC championship game in Grambling.
“Even when I'm not playing, I'm focused on the game because one day my name is going to be called,” Cofer said.
“I told him, 'Get ready, get ready,'” Jackson added.
Coach Jackson replaced Grambling State's leading scorer, Quintavious Dozier, with Cofer to give him more size against Montana State's ball screens. Cofer repeatedly attacked Montana State star Robert Ford III, who scored a game-high 26 points and made 6-of-8 3-pointers, but four fouls cost him the stretch run. played the majority of the time.
Down 42-33 at halftime, Grambling State players admitted there was an altercation in the locker room.
“We're a team where once you have an argument, you come back five, 10 minutes later, give high fives and talk about adjustments,” senior wing Jordan Smith said. He recorded 18 points and 9 rebounds.
By the time Jackson entered the room, the players had made the necessary adjustments, especially on defense. Despite hot shooting from Ford and junior forward Brian Gollak, the Tigers held Montana State to just 30 points in the second half and mixed in zone to shake off the Bobcats.
“They're built on adversity,” Jackson said of his players. “There are a lot of players who come from underprivileged or similar backgrounds, and adversity is a part of life. It's about how you bounce back when you're in a bad situation.”
Grambling State has less than 48 hours to recharge before facing Purdue, led by 2023 National Player of the Year Zach Eady. Last year, Purdue became the second No. 1 seed to face No. 16 seed Fairleigh Dickinson. Fairleigh Dickinson also won the First Four before facing the Boilermakers.
Purdue has lost to double-digit seeds in each of its last three appearances in the NCAA Tournament.
“They don't have a No. 1 seed for nothing,” Jackson said. “They have the best big man in the country and we have to come in and play. [I’ll watch] There are a lot of movies tonight. I haven't been sleeping much anyway. ”