HUNTSVILLE, Ala. | The Alabama A&M University men's basketball team didn't need any late-minute magic as the Bulldogs ended the regular season with a 66-56 victory over Southern in Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) play during Senior Night on Saturday at the AAMU Event Center.
The Alabama A&M victory, along with Arkansas-Pine Bluff's loss, secured a spot in next week's SWAC Men's Basketball Tournament in Birmingham. The Bulldogs (10-21 overall, 9-9 SWAC) will meet Alcorn State in the SWAC tourney quarterfinals on Wednesday.
Cameron Tucker led the way for Alabama A&M with 16 points, on 4-of-6 shooting, with five rebounds, six assists and a pair of steals, while
Chad Moodie added 14 points, four boards, two blocks and one assist.
Lorenzo Downey chipped in nine points and a team-high eight boards.
Derrick Tezeno led Southern (18-13, 12-6) with 19 points, on 7-of-8 shooting, with four rebounds and one steal. Brandon Davis registered 14 points, five boards, four assists and one steal.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Alabama A&M took advantage of a sluggish start by Southern as the Bulldogs raced out to an 0-0 lead after an EJ Williams long-range jumper with just under 16 minutes to play in the first half
- A Moodie jumper stretched the lead to double-digits, 15-5, with 10:48 left
- Southern pulled to within 18-11 after a Derrick Tezeno free throw with 8:31 remaining
- The Jaguars used an 8-0 run, capped by a Jarriyon Wilkens triple, to give Southern its first lead, 22-21, with 3:42 left
- Alabama A&M answered with a free throw by Lorenzo Downey and a layup by Eric Lee as the Bulldogs took a 25-22 lead with 1:37 remaining
- AAMU got a triple by London Riley as time expired, sending the Bulldogs into the break with a 30-24 advantage
- The Jaguars shooting woes continued as Alabama A&M opened the second half on an 8-0 run, capped by a Williams jumper in pushing the lead to 38-24 with 17:20 remaining
- Southern answered with a 15-2 run over the next five minutes, capped by a trey by Jordan Johnson as the Jaguars cut the margin to 40-39 with 12:31 left
- Back came Alabama A&M, on the heels of a 15-4 run, as AC Bryant scored on a layup, giving the Bulldogs a 55-43 advantage with 6:39 remaining
- Southern trailed 60-53 with 1:27 left and could not rally as the Bulldogs sealed the game at the free-throw line.
GAME NOTES
- Alabama A&M shot 46.7 percent (21-of-45) from the field and 67.9 percent (19-of-28) from the foul line
- The Bulldogs grabbed 27 rebounds, with 18 coming on the defensive glass
- Cameron Tucker recorded 16 points, five rebounds, six assists and a pair of steals
- Chad Moodie added 14 points, four boards, two blocks and one assist
- Lorenzo Downey chipped in nine points and a team-high eight boards
- The Bulldogs finished with 28 points off 23 SU turnovers, 28 bench points, 26 points in the paint, 17 fastbreak points and three second-chance points
- Southern went 16-of-43 from the floor (37.2 percent) and 17-of-23 (73.9 percent) charity stripe
- The Jaguars grabbed 31 rebounds, including 12 on the offensive glass
- Derrick Tezeno poured in 19 points, four rebounds and one steal
- Brandon Davis registered 14 points, five boards, four assists and one steal
- The Jaguars finished with 18 points in the paint, 13 bench points, eight points off 13 AAMU turnovers, seven second-chance points and four fastbreak points
UP NEXT
Alabama A&M advances to next week's SWAC Men's Basketball Tournament as the No.7 seed and will meet second seed Alcorn State in the quarterfinals on Wednesday. Tip-off against Jaguars is set for 2 p.m. from Bartow Arena.
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