The Basics
Score: Alabama A&M University 97  – Rust College 75
Record: AAMU (4-6, 0-0 SWAC), RC 4-9, 0-0 GCAC)
Location: Huntsville, Ala. - Event Center
Attendance: 231

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – The Alabama A&M men's basketball team got back in the win column as six players scored in double-figures to help lead the Bulldogs to a 97-75 route of Rust College on Thursday evening in Huntsville, Ala.

The Bulldogs improve to 4-6, 0-0 SWAC, while the Bearcats fall to 4-9, 0-0 GCAC.

The teams exchanged baskets for most of the first half as they had four ties and four lead changes before Alabama A&M pulled away in the final four minutes of the first half taking a 54-44 lead into the locker rooms.

The second-half saw the Bulldogs continue its offensive pace as they built their largest lead of 26 points with 4:12 remaining in the ball game.
 
Turning Point
After the Bearcats cut the Bulldogs lead to one point (40-39) with 4;13 remaining in the first half, AAMU outscored RC 57-36 the rest of the way en route to the 97-75 victory.

Individual Leaders
Senior guard Garrett Hicks (Madison, Ala.) and junior forward Omari Peek (Cincinnati, Ohio) each had a team-high 16 points. Junior guard Dailin Smith (Colorado Springs, Colo.) scored 13 points while Grad-Transfer Olisa Blaise Akonobi (Abuja, Nigeria) was perfect on the night shooting 5-of-5 from the field and 2-of-2 from the line on his way to a 12 point night. Junior guard Messiah Thompson (Atlanta, Ga.) had 12 points and sophomore guard Lorenzo Downey (Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada) chipped in with 11 points off the bench.

The Bearcats Keshon Tabb had a game-high 21 points in the losing effort.

> Alabama A&M connected on 62.3 percent from the field going 38-of-61
> Rust shot 40.7 percent from the floor making 24-of-59 shots
> The Bulldogs snatched 32 rebounds with 7 coming on the offensive end
> The Bearcats pulled down 28 rebounds, 12 of them being offensive
> AAMU outscored RC 38-22 in the paint
> Alabama A&M's bench outscored Rust bench 41-21

Stat of the Game
Alabama A&M shot a blistering 81.1 percent from behind the arc hitting 17-of-21 shots
 
Next Up
The Bulldogs return to action on Saturday, December 17th as they travel to Champaign, Ill. to take on Big Ten Conference power the #18 ranked University of Illinois. Tip Off is set for 3 p.m.