PINE BLUFF, Ark. – With the conference slate being at the half way mark, the Alabama A&M men's basketball program looks to regroup and push for a SWAC Tournament berth.
 
The Bulldogs (5-15, 2-7 SWAC) will aim their sites on this weekend as they travel to Arkansas-Pine Bluff (3-18, 2-7 SWAC) for a 7:30 p.m. game Saturday, and to Mississippi Valley State (1-20, 1-8 SWAC) for a 7:30 p.m. tip Monday.
 
Alabama A&M is tied with Pine Bluff in the standings so far, and two games behind for seventh place in the conference. The Bulldogs will look sweep the season series against UAPB on Saturday, before going into Itta Bena to try and split the series on the year with the Delta Devils.

The Bulldogs are one of the top teams in the conference in taking care of the ball, leading the SWAC with only 234 turnovers on the year. They rank ninth nationally in that category.
 
Freshman Cameron Alford, the leading scorer and rebounder, scores 14.0 points per game and is fifth in the SWAC in scoring. Along with his scoring prowess, the true freshman is ranks top-15 in the conference in rebounding (5.1), assists (2.1) and steals (1.5). He scored a freshman record 32 points in a home win over Pine Bluff in their last meeting on Jan. 11.
 
A&M's second leading scorer, freshman Garrett Hicks, is averaging 9.9 points and 2.6 rebounds per contest, and is top-10 in the conference in three-point field goals made per game. The Madison, Alabama native has scored in double figures in 11 games this year.

UAPB looks to take on Alabama A&M in the second half of the conference showdown after losing to the Bulldogs 59-49 on the road earlier this year. The Golden Lions are coming off a nail-biter loss at home to Jackson St., 49-45 last Monday. Juniors Markedric Bell and Dequan Morris both scored 10 points in the game versus Jackson St. UAPB's defense, which is tied for first in the conference giving up 69.0 ppg., held Jackson St. to its lowest total points this season. Junior Marquell Carter ranks 10th in the conference in rebounds, averaging 5.9 rpg. Morris ranks second in the conference in steals, averaging 1.7 spg. 

Mississippi Valley is looking to sweep the Bulldogs on the year, after taking a 72-66 victory over A&M in Elmore Gymnasium on Jan. 13. The Delta Devils are coming into the weekend on a six game losing streak, and a rough home loss on Monday at the hands of Grambling, 90-65. MVSU is led by three double-digit scorers in Michael Green, who scores 17.1 per game, Caleb Hunter at 13.9 per and Torico Simmons, who averages 10.0 per contest.


For more information on the A&M men's basketball team, follow the Bulldogs on Twitter (@Bulldogs_Hoops) and Instagram (@Bulldogs_Hoops). For more on all Bulldogs sports teams, follow the official social media accounts of AAMU Athletics on Twitter (@AAMUBulldogs), Facebook (Facebook.com/aamubulldogs) and Instagram (@AAMUathletics).