HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – Alabama A&M (10-16, 9-7 SWAC) locked in defensively for 40 minutes to defeat Alabama State (7-21, 6-10 SWAC) 80-65 in an NCAA Division I men's basketball game on Saturday, February 26. 

Sophomore guard Dailin Smith (Colorado Springs, Colo.) led the Bulldogs with 18 points, three assists and nine rebounds while junior guard Cameron Tucker (Birmingham, Ala.) chipped in with 13 points, six boards and seven assists. Junior forward Jalen Johnson (Indianapolis, Ind.) added 13 points and five rebounds while junior guard Garrett Hicks (Madison, Ala.) added 13 points and three boards.
 
Over the first 16 minutes the Bulldogs built a 31-16 lead that included nine points from senior forward Myles Parker (Huntsville, Ala.) and six each from Smith and Tucker. The Hornets would respond with a mini 5-0 burst that consisted of three points from Gerald Liddell to cut the advantage to 31-21 with 3:34 showing on the clock.
 
For the remainder of the frame the Bulldogs would score seven of 12 to head into the break leading 38-26.
 
AAMU would start the second half with a 19-13 run that included eight points from Smith to stretch the score, 57-39 with 10:43 left. ASU would then respond with a 19-14 rally that included eight points from Kenny Strawberry to try and close the gap to 71-58.
 
Over the remainder of the frame the Bulldogs would score nine of the final 16 points with four points from Tucker to close out the 80-65 victory.
 
Liddell would lead the Hornets with a double-double of 13 points and 14 rebounds with Trace Young following with 13 points, eight boards and two steals. Strawbridge added 11 points, three rebounds and three assists while Jordan O'neal finished with four points, six boards and a pair of steals to round out the top performers.
 
Alabama A&M will remain home on Thursday, March 3 as they take on Grambling. Game time is set for 7 p.m. at  Elmore Gymnasium.
 
NOTES
With the victory the Bulldogs have won five in row for the first time since a five game stretch from February 23, 2008 to March 6, 2008…It is also only the third time with a winning streak of that length since the 2003-04 season which available record dates back to.

FULL GAME VIDEO