Bulldogs complete season sweep of Mississippi Valley

Box Score

GREENWOOD – It wasn't easy as six Bulldogs fouled out of the game for the first time in the Willie Hayes era. But at the end of the day Hayes was smiling as Alabama A&M defeated Mississippi Valley 91-82.

"This was a long game," head coach Willie Hayes mentioned. "Mississippi Valley is very scrappy and can give you problems with their smaller lineup."

This was the Bulldogs first contest with 90 or more points and a season high in field goal percentage 55.1%.

Nicholas West secured a career night with 18 points and 12 rebounds on 6 of 10 from the field. Arthur Capers scored 15 while Demarquelle Tabb added 14 points and six rebounds. Not to be outdone Jeremy Crutcher secured eight rebounds and scored eight points.

A&M opened a 19 point lead before Mississippi Valley stormed back to pull within five with: 44 seconds remaining. The Bulldogs held their ground and connected on their free-throws to secure their sixth conference win of the year

"Although it was tough, we were able to handle it even though we got to comfortable early in the second half," Hayes recalled. "You can't get to comfortable even with a double digit lead as long as their is time on the clock."

Handle it they did as the Maroon & White shot a season high 38 field goals hitting 27 of those for 65.3 percent.

The points in the paint battle went to A&M 38-24 who also claimed the second chance point's competition.

The first half score was mostly even with AAMU scoring the first basket on a Brandon Ellis lay-up. From there the teams would exchange the lead on five different occasions before A&M took a seven point lead 37-30 at half-time.

The second half saw the Bulldogs get hot as the first five minutes saw them on a 13-5 run that eventually extended their advantage by 19, 55-36. The home team then began to drive to the basket on each possession resulting in 38 fouls being called on A&M. That many saw six players foul out of the game but allowed the bench to step up and give Hayes and crew the win.

"They did a good job getting fouls called on us, but that didn't faze us because when we got our opportunities at the line we hit our free-throws," Hayes quoted.

A total of 72 fouls were called in the game. The most in a Bulldog game in 2014 and the Southwestern Athletic Conference. The victory gives A&M a season sweep of the Delta Devils.

Jeffrey Simmons and DeAngelo Priar led the Mississippi Valley with 13 each.

The win allows A&M to remain tied for third place in the conference standings. Their next opponent will be in-state rival Alabama State. Tip-off is set for Saturday, Feb. 15 at 5:30 p.m.

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