MONTGOMERY, AL - Alabama State proved why it leads the SWAC Saturday with a dominating performance over Alabama A&M at The Acadome. The Hornets defeated the Bulldogs 87-43 in a game that was never in question. ASU stormed to a 43-16 halftime lead and shot 54 percent from the field for the game. John Smith led Alabama A&M with 11 points and seven rebounds, but the Bulldogs hit just 31 percent from the floor, including 1-13 from behind the three-point arc.

A majority of the Bulldog team has been fighting a stomach virus for much of the week, and there were even discussions about postponing the game.  Alabama A&M head coach Vann Pettaway said he would not let his team use that as an excuse saying they voted as a team to play the game on Saturday.

"We have to learn to compete no matter what the circumstances are," Pettaway said. "Bama State was prepared to play, and we were not."

Casey Cantey and Desmond Jackson each chipped in with six points.