BOXSCORE
JACKSON, Miss. (AP)—Head coach Vann Pettaway ended his 24th regular season at the helm of the Bulldogs basketball team with a 72-64 loss to the Jackson State Tigers Saturday night.
A&M (13-14, 10-8) was led by senior Cornelius Hester who matched his career high with 25 points and five rebounds. Grant Maxey scored 21 to lead Jackson State.
The Maroon & White loss the points in the paint battle 30-26, points off turnovers 23-15 and second chance points 15-4. There were 22 lead changes in the game.
The Bulldogs held a 57-56 lead with 5:51 left before Jackson State went on a 15-4 run for a 71-61 lead with 38 seconds to play.
Jackson’s Jenirro Bush hit a jumper to give the Tigers the lead for good with 5:21 remaining and Maxey scored eight points, including a layup to cap the run that gave Jackson State a 10-point lead.
Jeremy Crutcher added 10 points for Alabama A&M.
The loss is the second straight for the Maroon & White and puts them in the four-five game in the first round of the SWAC post season basketball tournament, which begins Wednesday in Garland, Texas.
