Box Score HUNSTVILLE ^__ A slow starting first half costs Alabama A&M their first home loss of the season as the Bulldogs fell to the Delta Devils of Mississippi Valley State 72-66, on Monday night.

The Bulldogs could not overcome a hot shooting Valley squad and 20 point deficit in the, despite a big second half comeback.

Three freshmen scored in double figures, led by Cameron Tucker with 13 points and seven rebounds, Cameron Alford who scored 10 points with five assists and Garrett Hicks who added 10 points and three assists in the loss.

First Half

• Mississippi Valley State started the game scoring the first seven points before Cameron Tucker got the Bulldogs on the board with just under 17 minutes to play.
• The Delta Devils had the hot hand all first half, finding themselves up 16-6 with 14 to play before the Bulldogs got the lead into single digits with a field goal and free throw by forward Gerron Scissum to make the game 20-13 with 11:51 to go in the half.
• A&M came within two points at 22-20 after a three from Tucker, before Valley responded to stretch the lead back out to nine points with a 30-21 lead with 4:50 left to play before intermission.
• Mississippi Valley finished the half outscoring the Bulldogs 12-7 to go into the locker room up 42-28.
• The Bulldogs made 10-of-31 shots from the field in the first half, and assisted on five baskets.
• Freshman Cameron Tucker led A&M with nine points on a perfect 4-for-4 shooting in the first half.

Second Half

• The Delta Devils remained hot through the break, stretching their lead to 20 points at 54-34 with 16:36 to play on a three pointer by leading scorer Torico Simmons.
• The Bulldogs fought back to get the deficit to ten after senior Evan Wiley hit a big three with 10 minutes remaining to make the score 58-48.
• Wiley's three was part of a 20-4 run for A&M that saw them reclaim the momentum and climb back into the game.
• With 7:41 to go, Brandon Miller knocked down a three to put the score at 60-57, while another Wiley bucket with four minutes to go brought the game within one, 64-63.
• After that basket, the Bulldogs fell victim to a 8-3 run to close the game, and lost to the Delta Devils by a final of 72-66.

Post-Game Notes 

• Alabama A&M starters: Brandon Miller, Cameron Tucker, Cameron Alford, TJ Parham, EJ Williams
• The Bulldogs shot 25-for-63 (39.7 percent) from the field as a team for the game, 6-for-24 (25.0 percent) from the three-point line and 10-for-16 from the charity stripe (62.5 percent).
• Alabama A&M outscored Mississippi Valley in the lane on Saturday night, scoring points 30 in the paint compared to the 18 by the Delta Devils.
• The Bulldogs won the rebounding battle by recording 41 rebounds to the 30 from MVSU. The Bulldogs scored 16 second chance points on 15 offensive rebounds, while the Delta Devils scored five second chance points off of five offensive boards.
• The Bulldog bench played well again, outscoring the opposing bench 27-16. Freshman Garrett Hicks led the bench unit for A&M with 10 points.
• Turnovers: A&M scored 10 points off of eight turnovers, while Mississippi Valley scored 19 points off of 12 Bulldog turnovers.

Up Next
Alabama A&M will head to Birmingham to play rival Alabama State at the Bill Harris Arena on Saturday, Jan. 18 at 3 p.m. for their next contest.

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