Box Score SOUTH BEND, Ind. ^__ A season high for forward Gerron Scissum was not enough as the Bulldogs fell to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, 82-56, Sunday afternoon in the final game of the calendar year for both teams.

Alabama A&M (3-8) struggled offensively in the first half, shooting 7-for-36 from the field (19.4 percent) and committing five turnovers. Scissum and guard Cameron Alford were the leaders for the Bulldogs in the opening half, scoring 10 of the team's 18 points between them.

After finding themselves down 14-7 early on, the Bulldogs could not keep Notre Dame out of the paint, where they scored 22 of their 36 first half points near the basket. 

The Bulldogs came out of the locker room after halftime trying to eat away at the 36-18 deficit, making adjustments to limit the paint points for the Irish, however found themselves down by as much as 30 points with the score 77-47 with 5:29 to go in the game. The three-point arc was the key in the second half, as the Bulldogs allowed Notre Dame to sink 10 threes for 30 of their 46 second half points.

Scissum led the Bulldogs with 14 points and six rebounds. Alford added 14 points and seven rebounds, while Garrett Hicks added 11 points of his own.

Forward John Mooney led the way for the Irish, finishing with a 16 point and 18 rebound double-double.

Post-Game Notes

• The 2019-20 Bulldogs defeated three Division I non-conference opponents, including three of the five in-state schools they faced for the first time in school history (Jacksonville State, North Alabama, Troy).
• Alabama A&M starters: Cameron Tucker, Garrett Hicks, Cameron Alford, Jalen Johnson, EJ Williams
• The Bulldogs shot 23-for-76 (30.3 percent) from the field as a team for the game, 7-for-23 (30.4 percent) from the three-point line and 3-for-5 from the charity stripe (60 percent).
• Notre Dame out rebounded the Bulldogs 48-43. The Bulldogs grabbed 14 offensive rebounds for 18 second chance points, while the Fighting Irish grabbed nine offensive boards for 16 second chance points.
• Turnovers: The turnover battle was even, with both teams committing nine turnovers and converting them into nine points off of the miscues.

Up Next
Alabama A&M enters conference play in the new year as they travel to face Grambling State on Jan. 4 at 5:30 p.m. and Jackson State on Jan. 6 at 7:30 p.m. for their SWAC opening weekend trip.
 
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