Bulldogs Drop Eighth Straight

Box Score NORMAL – "It's a learning process for me," said first year head coach Willie Hayes. "It's a learning process for this team. We're young, but we've got to learn how to win close games."

That was coach Hayes comments as the Bulldogs dropped their eighth straight contest and second Southwestern Athletic Conference game to the Grambling State Tigers 60-55.

Senior Casey Cantey scored 24 points going 9 of 17 from the field but was 2 of 8 from the free-throw line. The Demopolis, Alabama native pulled in eight rebounds.

The first half only saw one lead change as the Bulldogs held a 4-3 lead until the 12:48 mark when GSU’s leading scorer Quincy Roberts dropped three of his 21 points.

A&M would not get any closer until the 1:03 mark when Cantey hit his first free-throw pulling within two 53-51. From there Grambing out-scored the Maroon & White 7-4 over the next 63 seconds to secure their first conference win.

The Bulldogs (2-9, 0-2 SWAC) continued to struggle in the shooting department going 10 of 28 in the second half after shooting 44 percent on 11 of 25 in the first. For the game A&M shot 40% compared to the Tigers 35%.

Amazingly the Tigers shot 5 of 24 for 21 percent in the second half but 13 of 18 from the charity stripe and was only outscored by A&M 27-24.

Jeremy Crutcher finished with 14 points on 4 of 16 from the field and five steals. Jerome Hunter completed his 39^th contest in the Maroon & White with nine points and eight boards.

Alabama A&M will look for their first victory over a Division I opponent and the New Year on Saturday, January 7, when they open their home conference play versus the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff. The game is set for a 5:00 p.m. tip-off.

Tickets are available by calling 256-372-4059 or by visiting A&M All About Tickets.

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