ITTA BENA – Alabama A&M sophomore Demarquelle Tabb, senior Casey Cantey and sophomore Jeremy Crutcher combined for 19 of the Bulldogs first 21 points as A&M built a 21-8 lead just over eight minutes into the game versus.

MVSU (12-11, 11-0 SWAC) trailed by as much as 13 points in the first half, but fought back to stay at the No. 1 spot in the conference. Valley is currently tied for the sixth longest win streak in the nation.

"We came out of the gate like I wanted to, but we couldn't maintain it," said A&M coach Willie Hayes, whose team was hurt by 23 turnovers. "We got a little lax in the second half and gave up 47 points. We shouldn't have given up 47 points, but we competed. I liked the effort."

MVSU's Terrence Joyner scored 19 of his 27 points in the second half leading Mississippi Valley State to victory over Alabama A&M 78-64 on Monday night.

The Delta Devils shot 50 percent from the field (13 of 26) and outscored Alabama A&M 47-34 in the second half.

The Bulldogs (5-15, 3-8 SWAC) took a 36-35 lead 2:36 into the second half, but MVSU responded with five straight, and wasn’t threatened the rest of the way. The Delta Devils increased their lead by as many as 16 points three times.

Casey Cantey led four Alabama A&M players with 20 points. Demarquelle Tabb chipped in 12, Brandon Ellis 11 and Jeremy Crutcher 10 for the Bulldogs.

A&M will welcome conference rival Alabama State University in their annual Pack the House Challenge on Saturday, February 11, in Elmore Gymnasium.  Game time is set for 5 p.m.