Bulldogs drop contest to Golden Lions

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Normal- The Bulldog basketball squad under the guidance of head coach Willie Hayes hosted the Golden Lions of Arkansas-Pine Bluff in this season's SWAC home opener.

The visitors entered Elmore at 3-10 overall and 1-0 in conference while the home squad held a 5-7 overall record and a 2-0 SWAC record. The Maroon & White also entered on a two game win streak that began with the new year.

The first half saw both teams eager to insert themselves in the action, however, neither team was able to break away from the other or dominate play. The entire first half, the teams traded baskets as there were three ties and five lead changes.

A&M took a five point advantage into the break. The largest lead for either team was nine by the visitors at the 15:31 mark.

The Maroon and White shot 53 percent from the field hitting 10-19, and 42 percent from behind the arc on 5-12. Nick West lead A&M with 14 first half points, West shot 67 percent from the field and 50 percent from distance (4-6, 2-4). West added four points from the charity strip prior to the break.

The Golden Lions Tevin Hammond matched West's 14 first half points to lead the visitors.

The second half saw the Bulldogs production taper off and the Golden Lions grabbed a lead that they would not relinquish. The Maroon & White shot 45 percent from the field, and 37 percent from distance in the second half.

"We had our chances, coming out in the second half we started turning the ball over. We knew that was something we could not do against this team, and we did exactly that in the second half. We had four or five in row, we let them pull away a little bit then it was an uphill battle from there," says A&M leader Willie Hayes.

Demarquelle Tabb, G. A. Hill and Rakiya Battle each finished with double figure points after scoring one point or less the first 20 minutes.

"These three players came out in the second half being more assertive, but sometimes that is too late and you get down. We have to play the game when it is being played. We did take advantage of certain situations like the last three minutes of the first half and the first three minutes of the half", mentions Coach Hayes.

The increased production from these three players, and nine Bulldogs getting on the scoreboard was not enough for A&M to capture a third straight victory.

"Normally we don't turn the ball over, so we will have to work on that, as well as playing against the zone better. We need to work on guys flashing to the middle harder and increasing our ball movement," added Hayes.

The Bulldogs will work on improving in the areas mentioned prior to Monday's home contest versus Mississippi Valley State University. The Maroon & White will host the Devils at 7:30 p.m. Monday night in the second half of the Bulldogs basketball doubleheader.

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