HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – Alabama A&M (6-16, 5-7 SWAC) defeated Mississippi Valley State (1-21, 1-11 SWAC) in an NCAA Division I men's basketball game on Saturday, February 12.
The Bulldogs were leading 61-58 with 10 seconds left in the second half before Caleb Hunter would deliver a three point shot to tie the game at 61-61 and force the first overtime. That first extra session would see the teams be deadlocked at 65-65 with just 2:29 left on the clock before MVSU responded with another trey from Hunter. However, sophomore guard
Dailin Smith (Colorado Springs, Colo.) answered with one of his own to once again tie the game 68-68 to force a second overtime.
In that frame the Bulldogs would score 11 of the first 20 points that included eight points from Johnson to lead 79-77 with 1:30 showing on the clock before the Delta Devils answered with a layup from David McCoy to even the score and advance to another overtime.
Unlike previous extra sessions, MVSU jumped out with a 6-0 run to take an 85-79 advantage within the first two minutes of the third overtime. AAMU responded with an 8-2 burst that consisted of four points from junior guard
Cameron Tucker (Birmingham, Ala.) to deadlock the game at 87-87 and force what would be the final overtime.
The Bulldogs used the first 2:42 to a 92-89 lead before Mississippi Valley State had a mini 3-0 run to tie the game 92-92. The Bulldogs would then seal the game in the final ten seconds from an unlikely source as senior guard
Brandon Powell (Huntsville, Ala.) banked home the game winner from just beyond the foul line to clinch the 94-92 four overtime victory.
Tucker led the Bulldogs with a game-high 28 points on 9-of-10 at the free throw line, 11 rebounds and seven assists while junior forward
Jalen Johnson (Indianapolis, Ind.) added 19 points and 13 boards. Senior forward
Myles Parker (Huntsville, Ala.) had 16 points, nine rebounds and three assists while Smith had 13 points and four boards.
Over the first seven minutes the Bulldogs built a 14-8 lead that included eight points from Parker. The Delta Devils would respond with an 11-2 run to flip the switch and lead 19-16. For the remainder of the frame AAMU would score 17 of 29 to take the lead, 33-31 heading into halftime.
MVSU would start the second half with a mini 8-6 burst over nine minutes to tie the game 39-39. before pulling away with a 14-8 rally to lead 53-47 with 4:31 showing on the clock.
The Bulldogs would then respond with a 12-2 advantage that consisted of three points from Tucker to retake the lead, 61-58, before Hunter's three point heroics.
Devin Gordon would lead MVSU with 21 points and four rebounds with Gary Grant following with 16 points, 16 boards and eight assists. Terry Collins added 16 points, five rebounds and two while Caleb Hunter finished with 13 points and four boards to round out the top performers.
Alabama A&M will remain home to face off against Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Monday, February 14. Game time is set for 7 p.m. at Elmore Gymnasium.
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