Box Score / ITTA BENA, MS - Alabama A&M spotted Mississippi Valley State a 9-0 lead Saturday night and never fully recovered as the Bulldogs fought hard throughout the game, but came up short, 68-62. Trant Simpson led the Bulldogs with 22 points, and Cornelius Hester and John Smith each added 10. Smith grabbed a team-high eight rebounds. The Bulldogs moved to within three points late in the contest, but Valley knocked in crucial free throws down the stretch to keep A&M at arm's length. 

Valley built its lead in the first half from the three-point line connecting on six treys in the first 20 minutes to open up a 30-23 halftime lead. The Bulldogs scratched and clawed back into the game in the second half, but could get no closer than the three-point margin with just over two minutes to play.

"This is a tough one," head coach Vann Pettaway said after the game, "We just are not playing tough enough. When teams get physical with us, we have been backing down.  We have to make it up in our minds that we are going to roll up our sleeves and play tough A&M basketball."

Mississippi Valley State controlled the boards and gathered 19 offensive rebounds giving them several second chance possessions. Julius Cheeks led the Devils to the victory with 17 points. 

The  Bulldogs connected on just 23 percent of their shots from behind the arc, and 41.5 percent from the field overall.  Casey Cantey chipped in with nine points for A&M.

The loss is the second straight for A&M and moves the Bulldogs to 3-8 overall and 1-2 in SWAC play. The win moves Valley to 1-14 overall and 1-1 in the SWAC.

Alabama A&M is in action Monday night at Arkansas-Pine Bluff for a 7:30 scheduled tip.