HUNTSVILLE, Ala. | The Alabama A&M University men's basketball team earned its first postseason victory in 19 years on Wednesday night as the Bulldogs will look to make it two straight with a trip to Norfolk State on Saturday during the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament Semifinals, presented by BSN SPORTS.
The Bulldogs and Spartans will compete in the John McLendon Classic and tip-off is set for 3 p.m. (central time) from Joseph G. Echols Memorial Hall and streamed on ESPN+.
Alabama A&M (12-22) absolutely stunned Austin Peay in the quarterfinal round of the Hugh Durham Classic on Wednesday night as the Bulldogs shot nearly 54 percent from the floor in an 81-71 victory, which gave the program its first postseason tournament win in 19 years. AAMU last tasted postseason success in 2005 when the Bulldogs won the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Tournament championship and advanced to the NCAA Division I Tournament, falling to Oakland in the first round.
Norfolk State (22-11) received a bye to begin tournament play as the Spartans earned the top seed.
HEAD COACH - OTIS HUGHLEY JR.
Career Record: 27-40 (second season)
At Alabama A&M: 27-40 (second season)
SWAC Record: 19-17
SERIES HISTORY
All-Time Record vs. Norfolk State: Norfolk State leads series, 3-1
Last 10 Meetings: Norfolk State leads, 3-1
Last Meeting: Norfolk State 89, Alabama A&M 83 (Nov. 19, 2022)
Hughley vs. Norfolk State: 0-1
LAST MEETING VERSUS NORFOLK STATE
The two programs opened play at the ATL Has Something to Say HBCU Challenge on Nov. 19, 2022 as Norfolk State held off Alabama A&M, 89-83.
Messiah Thompson led four AAMU players in double figures with 18 points, while
Dailin Smith added 17 points.
Garrett Hicks recorded 13 points and five rebounds, while
Austin Harvell came off the bench to provide 10 points as the Bulldogs shot 41.2 percent from the floor.
Norfolk State shot nearly 51 percent as Cahiem Brown paced four players in double figures with 20 points and four boards. Christian Ings added 15 points and Dana Tate Jr. came off the bench to pour in 14 points. Joe Bryant Jr. tallied 10 points as the Spartans went 11-of-19 (57.9 percent) from long range.
LAST TIME OUT – ALABAMA A&M
Chad Moodie,
Caleb Blackwell,
Omari Peek and
Cameron Tucker each recorded career highs as the Bulldogs shot 53.4 percent in an 81-71 win over Austin Peay on Wednesday.
Moodie, the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Freshman of the Year, finished with a career-high 24 points, while
Caleb Blackwell also added a career-best 13 points. Peek registered 18 points and a career-high seven rebounds, while Tucker posted a double-double with 11 points and a career-high 13 boards.
LAST TIME OUT – NORFOLK STATE
The Spartans knocked Coppin State out of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Tournament during the quarterfinals, but Norfolk State couldn't slip past Howard, falling to the Bison, 80-74, for the second consecutive season.
Allen Bertrand led NSU with 16 points and four rebounds, while Jamarii Thomas and Christian Ings tallied 14 and 11 points, respectively, as the Spartans grabbed just 19 rebounds.
TOP SCORERS
Alabama A&M
Omari Peek – 9.8 points
Cameron Tucker – 8.8 points
Chad Moodie – 7.3 points
Norfolk State
Jamarii Thomas – 17.1 points
Allen Bertrand – 11.2 points
Christian Ings – 8.4 points
BIGGEST NON-CONFERENCE WIN
Alabama A&M – vs. Tennessee State (85-83, OT // Nov. 29, 2023)
Norfolk State – at VCU (63-60 // Dec. 1, 2023)
UP NEXT
The winner of the Alabama A&M versus Norfolk State matchup will face the winner of the Purdue Fort Wayne and Tarleton State game in the 2024 CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament Championship Game. A date and time will be announced at a later time.
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