HUNTSVILLE, Ala. | The Alabama A&M University men's basketball team returns from a 12-day layoff as the Bulldogs visit the Lonestar State for a pair of Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) games, starting on Saturday against Texas Southern. Tip-off against the Tigers is set for 2 p.m. from the H&PE Arena and streamed on HBCU GO.
Alabama A&M (3-15 overall, 2-3 SWAC) are riding a three-game losing streak after opening SWAC play with road wins over Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Mississippi Valley State. Texas Southern (5-12, 3-3) have won two out of its last three games, but dropped a 73-64 road decision on Monday to Jackson State.
HEAD COACH - OTIS HUGHLEY JR.
Career Record: 18-33 (second season)
At Alabama A&M: 18-33 (second season)
SWAC Record: 12-11
SERIES HISTORY [note: since 2004]
All-Time Record vs. Texas Southern: Texas Southern leads, 33-8
Record in Houston: Texas Southern leads, 16-3
Last Meeting: Texas Southern 74, Alabama A&M 61 (3/10/2023)
Hughley vs. Texas Southern: 0-2
LAST MEETING
The last time these two met was in the semifinals of the 2023 SWAC Men's Basketball Tournament on March 10 in Birmingham as Texas Southern picked up a 74-61 win over Alabama A&M.
Lorenzo Downey paced the Bulldogs with 15 points and five boards as Alabama A&M shot 42.1 percent from the floor and scored 32 points in the paint.
PJ Henry tossed in 26 points and Davon Barnes added 20 as Texas Southern outscored AAMU in the second half, 46-33.
LAST TIME OUT – ALABAMA A&M
Dailin Smith finished with 19 points, two rebounds and two steals as Alabama A&M fell to rival Alabama State, 72-55, in the Bridge Builder Classic on Jan. 15 in Mobile.
The Bulldogs shot 40.0 percent from the field but could not overcome a 21 turnovers and 59.3 percent from the foul line.
LAST TIME OUT – TEXAS SOUTHERN
PJ Henry recorded a team-high 20 points, while Jaylen Wysinger added 13 as Texas Southern fell to Jackson State, 73-64, on Monday.
The Tigers, despite getting 30 bench points and 28 points in the paint, shot 37.5 percent from the field and 68.0 percent from the foul line in the road loss.
TOP SCORERS
Alabama A&M
Dailin Smith – 14.9 points
Omari Peek – 8.2 points
Cameron Tucker – 7.3 points
Texas Southern
PJ Henry – 13.2 points
Jonathan Cisse – 10.2 points
Grayson Carter – 8.3 points
SWAC PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH IN PRESEASON POLL
Alabama A&M – seventh
Texas Southern – first
NATIONAL STATISTICS
Alabama A&M
10
th – Free-throw attempts per game
11
th – Free-throws made per game
21
st – Bench points per game
Dailin Smith – 22
nd in free throws
Dailin Smith – 27
th in free-throw attempts
BIGGEST NON-CONFERENCE WIN
Alabama A&M – vs. Tennessee State (85-83, OT // Nov. 29, 2023)
Texas Southern – at Abilene Christian (79-74 // Nov. 14, 2023)
THE MARCH FOR 1,000 POINTS
Dailin Smith currently has 896 career points and needs 104 points to reach 1,000 career points
UP NEXT
Alabama A&M closes out its two-game Texas road trip on Monday at Prairie View A&M. Tip-off against the Panthers is set for 7:30 p.m. from the William J. Nicks Building.
For complete of Alabama A&M Athletics, check out the official homepage at www.aamusports.com. Remember to follow us on social media: Instagram (@aamuathletics) and Twitter (@_aamuathletics).
