MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Alabama A&M (6-3, 4-3 SWAC) scored just 24 points in the second half in a 72-58 loss at rival Alabama State (4-8, 4-8 SWAC) in an NCAA Division I men's basketball game on Saturday, February 13.
 
Sophomore guard Cameron Tucker (Birmingham, Ala.) led the Bulldogs with 14 points including 7-of-8 from the charity stripe along with grabbing three rebounds, while freshman guard Dailin Smith (Colorado Springs, Co.) added 11 points and two rebounds.

The Bulldogs scored the first five points of the game, on an inside score from sophomore forward Jalen Johnson (Indianapolis, Ind.) on the opening possession and a three from Smith on the next before the Hornets' Brandon Battle responded with a dunk to make the score 5-2 at the 18:20 mark of the first.
 
Seconds later sophomore guard Garrett Hicks (Madison, Ala.) hit his first three of the game, sparking a 6-2 spurt for the Bulldogs, who led going into the first media timeout 11-4 with just under 16 minutes to play in the opening frame.
 
Alabama A&M continued their strong play over the next handful of possessions, holding ASU to just two field goals in five minutes and finding themselves up 16-8 after a triple from freshman guard London Riley (Atlanta, Ga.) at the 11:39 mark.
 
With 10 minutes to play in the opening frame, Tucker nailed a triple to and was put the Bulldogs up 19-10, followed by a jumper from Smith to gain their first double-digit lead of the game.
 
After ASU's DJ Heath scored inside for his first basket of the afternoon, freshman guard Jevon Tatum (Snellville, Ga.) found freshman center Abba Lawal (Kaduna, Nigeria) for an alley hoop dunk, putting the Bulldogs back up eleven, 23-12 with seven minutes to play.
 
With just over three minutes to play in the first, Riley sank a triple to put the A&M up 30-14, their largest lead of the night, however Heath responded with a triple of his own to begin a 12-4 run by the Hornets to end the half, and A&M entered the locker room at half with a 34-28 lead.
 
The battle continued after the break, with the Hornets scoring the first eight points of the second and taking a 36-34 lead, their first of the game, with 16:55 remaining, before Johnson sank a pair of free throws to end the Bulldogs' scoring drought.
 
A&M responded by retaking the lead on a jumper from Smith, however ASU's Kenny Strawbridge answered with a triple to take a 39-38 lead with just under 14 minutes to play.
 
After seeing the score tied on three difference occasions over the next three minutes, the Hornets went up 50-46 at the 8:34 mark on scores from Heath and Battle, forcing a Bulldog timeout.

The Hornets continued their run out of the break, as Strawbridge sank a pair of free throws and Heath nailed a triple to put extend their lead to nine, 55-46 with seven minutes remaining.
 
On the next A&M possession, Tucker drew a foul and made two free throws to reduce the deficit, however Strawbridge put in another bucket to keep the distance between the teams at nine.
 
The Bulldogs continued to fight, going on a 6-0 run to get within three at 57-54 with 5:18 to play, before ASU's Battle knocked down free throws over the next minute to go up 60-54.
 
At the 3:28 mark, ASU's Jackson sank a jumper to put the Hornets up 62-54, before Tucker scored on a layup and added a free throw on the next possession to pull within five with 2:27 remaining.
 
The Hornets extended their lead to 11 with a minute to go after two free throws from Battle and a triple from Heath, while the Bulldogs struggled to score down the stretch, falling on the road 72-58.
 
Battle led the Hornets with a game-high 23 points along with four rebounds and four assists. Strawbridge added 18 points, seven rebounds and two blocks, while Heath scored 17 points, four assists and three rebounds.
 
Alabama A&M returns to play on next Saturday, February 20 as they travel to Baton Rouge to face Southern University. Tip off is set for 4:30 p.m. in the F.G. Clark Activity Center.