PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas -- Ivy Smith Jr. scored the final seven points and Grambling held off Prairie View A&M, 90-85 on Saturday night to win their ninth straight game and move into a first-place tie in the Southwestern Conference.

The Tigers opened SWAC play with three straight losses, but have since strung together nine consecutive wins. After Arkansas-Pine Bluff's loss to Southern Saturday, 70-62, the teams now are tied atop the conference with 9-3 records.

Gary Blackston hit a 3 to get Prairie View within one, 79-78 with 3:27 left, but Shirmane Thomas answered with a jumper and hit a pair of free throws and Smith added another to defuse the threat. Troy Thompson hit a 3 and Blackston made two free throws to get the Panthers within a point, 84-83, but Smith answered with a jumper and four straight free throws to put the game out of reach.

Smith finished with 28 points and Thomas scored 26 to lead Grambling (13-12, 9-3). Devante Jackson added 15 points and Anthony Gaston contributed 13.

Blackston finished with 25 points for Prairie View (9-16, 6-5), with Zachary Hamilton adding 19 and Dennis Jones 13.