GRAMBLING, La. -- Chris Thomas scored 19 points on 7-of-13 shooting, and Derrick Griffin had 16 points, 11 rebounds and three blocked shots to help Texas Southern beat Grambling State 69-54 Monday night.

David Blanks added 13 points and Malcolm Riley scored 10 for Texas Southern (6-11, 5-0 Southwestern Athletic Conference).

Grambling State (6-12, 3-3) jumped out to a 19-9 lead but Texas Southern closed the first half on a 14-3 run before shooting 60 percent for the field after halftime and pulling away down the stretch for its fifth win in a row.

Texas Southern finished shooting 50 percent (27 of 54) from the field, despite making just 6 of 24 from 3-point range.

Grambling State made 20 of 53 (37.7 percent) field goal attempts, including 4 of 14 from behind the arc.

Ervin Mitchell led Grambling State with 22 points. Nigel Ribeiro scored 10.