Jan. 2, 2006

Box Score

Jackson, Miss. - The defending SWAC champions and the coaches' choice to repeat as title winners took a pause Monday night as Jackson State upended Alabama A&M 83-77 in the league opener for each team. The loss was the fourth straight for the Bulldogs, who still have not defeated an NCAA Div. I team this season. Obie Trotter's 26 points were not enough for the league favorite Bulldogs.

AAMU trailed by as many as 14 points in the first half, but closed with a 13-5 run over the final few minutes of the half and trailed by just six (34-28) at the intermission. The Bulldogs scrapped throughout the second half and held a three point lead (77-74) with 3:19 to play. Jackson State would score the final 10 points of the game from that point at A&M committed turnovers on four of its final five possessions.

Jackson State's Trey Johnson torched the Bulldogs for 38 points on 9-16 shooting from the field, and he hit 17 of 18 trips to the free throw stripe.

Michael Ford added 14 points and Evan Hilton 10 for AAMU.