State outlasts Alabama A&M

Box Score MONTGOMERY -- Whenever the Hornets and Bulldogs get together it’s always a battle and Saturday night in the Dunn-Oliver Acadome was no different.

The Hornets were victorious this go round with a 69-62 win in their second regular season meeting.

The Bulldogs open the game on a Justan Banks layup but ASU’s Phillip Crawford opened the scoring for Alabama State that led to tying and eventually taking a first half lead into half-time 32-22.

Both teams tied in points in the paint with six all. State out-scored A&M in points off turnovers 12-6 and second chance points 5-0.

AAMU was able to get back into the game in the second half by hitting four three point attempts and 10 of their 15 free throws. During their 26-15 point run, The Willie Hayes squad had four plays where they hit a basket and free throw or hit a three point field goal.

ASU (8-17, 6-6 SWAC) led the entire game and had their largest lead at 49-34 after a State’s Jamel Waters field goal with 10:40 left. The Maroon & White (8-15, 4-8 SWAC) then went on a 26-15 run over the next eight minutes and cut the lead down to 64-60 on a Green Hill basket with 3:05 to go, and cut it to four again at 66-62 with 1:21 left after Jose Long hit a shot.

But it wasn’t to be for A&M as they dropped their 15^th contest of the year.

Brandon Ellis led the Bulldogs with 15 points followed by Long's 12 and Jeremy Crutcher's 11. The Bulldogs leading scorer Demarquelle Tabb entered the game averaging 14 points per game but the Hornets held him to eight points on one of six shooting. He was able to hit six of nine at the free throw line.

This is the first time this season A&M has won and loss to the same opponent with a seven point margin. On Jan. 12^th the Bulldogs defeated State 64-57 in Normal.

A&M will hit the road for their next two games. First up is a date with the Alcorn State Braves on the reservation on Saturday, Feb. 16^th tipping off at 5:00 p.m.

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