Box Score

JACKSON – Head coach Willie Hayes received a lot of well wishes going into the New Year but he received one of the best so far with the Bulldogs claiming a 68-61 win over Jackson State to start the league play.
 
"For us to get a win versus Jackson in Mississippi is tough," said Hayes. This is a really good win for us because we are rivals no matter what sport we're playing."
 
A&M was led by senior Jeremy Crutcher with 16 points and two assists.  G.A. Hill scored 14 points off the bench and collected a pair of rebounds, assists and a steal. Jerome Hunter rounded out the double digit scores with 10 points and eight rebounds.
 
The Maroon & White won the points off turnovers battle 21-14 and bench points 27-17.
 
The first half saw the visiting team shoot 9 of 26 for 37% while JSU shot 8 of 24 for 33%. 
 
Jackson opened the scoring on a Treshawn Bolden layup just 36 seconds into the contest. AAMU then grabbed their first lead at the 18:18 mark when Crutcher connected on one of his jumpers 4-3.  Jackson regained it 5-4 at the 16:21 mark but the Bulldogs regained the lead 7-5 on Brandon Ellis three pointer. They would hold the lead through the halftime break.
 
Hayes and company didn't see their lead fall until 7:07 was on the clock in the second half when a Javeres Brent layup tied the game at 48-48.  Crutcher gave the lead back to Alabama A&M on another layup but Brent West hit two free throws to tie it at 50-50.  The senior point guard then hit another jumper to give A&M a 52-50 advantage that would not fall until the 4:41 mark.
 
The Tigers would tie the game again 52-52 but A&M was too much to handle for the Blue Tigers and regained the lead and eventually the win earning their first victory of the year and in the Southwestern Athletic Conference.
 
"Jerome and G.A. Hill did a great job tonight," Hayes recalled.  Demarquelle Tabb got into foul trouble so we needed our big man in the middle and bench play tonight and we got that from those two and the rest of the team.

"We have to do a better job in the half court sets," Hayes continued.  "There were times we did not do a good job in those sets.  Jackson tied the game three times and a lot of times we gave up easy baskets."

This was Hayes first victory in Jackson, Mississippi and third over the Tigers in his three year coaching career.

Next up A&M will travel to Grambling, Louisiana for a 7:30 p.m. contest with the Tigers of Grambling State on Monday, January 6. 
 
Fans can listen to the game by clicking on WJAB 90.9.