HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – With the close of the 2020-21 campaign, the Alabama A&M Sports Information Office is producing a Season in Review for each of the program's 14 sports that competed during the year.
 
That series will begin with the fall season before progressing to the winter and spring campaigns. Each week reviews will be released on Mondays and Wednesdays until concluding with the final spring sport on Wednesday, July 28 and a Department Season in Review on Monday, August 2.
 
Today we take a look back at the 2020-21 Men's Basketball season.
 
2020-21 Men's Basketball
Conference Affiliation: Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC)
Overall/Conference Finish: 6-9, 4-9 (7^th)
Final National Ranking: N/A
NCAA: N/A
All-Americans: 1 BOXTOROW Second-Team: Jalen Johnson
All-Region Selections: N/A
All-Conference Selections: 2 (Second-Team: Jalen Johnson, Garrett Hicks)
Conference Weekly Honors: 4 – Player of the Week: Jalen Johnson (Dec. 2, Dec. 22, Feb. 26), Garrett Hicks (Jan. 26)
Major Awards and Honors: N/A

2020-21 Season in Review

• Won first four games as part of 6-2 start. Included last second 78-76 win at Samford (11/29) in season opener and 93-90 double-overtime victory over strong South Alabama (12/19) squad in home opener.
• Included among that stretch was a span of 20 days between the Bulldogs' first game and second game and four straight COVID-19 related cancellations following the USA game. They would then reach their 4-0 start with a 70-63 victory over rival Alabama State (1/16) and a 68-58 decision over Southern (1/23).
• Dominated Mississippi Valley State (2/6) by a 93-58 score and used a Jalen Johnson put back with 20 seconds left to down Arkansas-Pine Bluff (2/8) 56-55 in back-to-back games at Elmore Gymnasium.
• Finished fourth in the nation in three-point field goal percentage defense (.283) and 14^th in field goal percentage defense (.393). Led the SWAC in both categories as well as fewest turnovers (229), finishing 35^th nationally in the latter.
• Nearly upset eventual SWAC Regular Season Champion Prairie View A&M (2/27), falling 55-54 in the final seconds.

 
Individual Achievements/Honors

• Jalen Johnson led the way with averages of 16.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.0 steals and 0.8 assists while shooting .562 from the field.
• Johnson led the SWAC in field goal percentage and placed 31^st in the nation and was second in offensive rebounds per game (3.27) in the league. Was 28^th nationally in the latter and third in the SWAC in both points and rebounds per game.
• Garrett Hicks averaged 13.0 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.3 steals and Jevon Tatum delivered a strong freshman campaign with marks of 8.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 0.9 steals in 14 games, seven of those starts.
• Johnson earned first All-American honors of his career, picking up Second-Team honors from BOXTOROW, making him one of the 17 best players from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU). Both he and Hicks were also named All-SWAC Second-Team.
• In terms of weekly SWAC honors, Johnson collected three on December 2, December 22 and February 26 while Hicks earned his on January 26.
• Johnson scored in double-figures 12 times, including four of 20 or more points and hauled in double-digit rebounds – each of those outings resulting in a double-double. Posted career-high 28 points on 13-of-17 shooting at Samford and added 24 points and 11 rebounds next time out against South Alabama. Also had 25-point, nine rebound effort against Alcorn State (2/22) and 22 points and seven caroms vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Posted two best rebounding efforts of the season in final two games, grabbing 13 against both eventual NCAA Tournament team Texas Southern (3/1) and Grambling (3/6). Added 16 and 15 points, respectively, in those games.
• Hicks started all 15 games, producing 10 double-digit scoring outings led by a career-high 27 points on 10-of-17 shooting from the field against Southern (1/23). That one also included a 7-of-11 performance from beyond the arc, equaling his personal best for made threes in a game. Had previously drained seven earlier in the season against South Alabama, a game in which he dropped 23 points, and had 16 points and six caroms in the near upset of PVAMU.

 
Schedule of Season in Review Releases
Football (June 14)
Women's Soccer (June 16)
Women's Basketball (June 21)
Men's Basketball (June 23)
Women's Indoor Track & Field (June 28)
Men's Indoor Track & Field (June 30)
Bowling (July 5)
Men's Golf (July 7)
Women's Tennis (July 12)
Men's Tennis (July 14)
Men's Outdoor Track & Field (July 19)
Women's Outdoor Track & Field (July 21)
Softball (July 26)
Baseball (July 28)
Athletics (August 2)