THE HILL | Kintavious Dozier finished just three points shy of matching a career high as the Alabama A&M University men's basketball team had six players in double figures as the Bulldogs rolled to a 100-91 victory over Jackson State in a Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) game on Monday night at the AAMU Event Center.
After trailing 40–36 at the halftime break, the Bulldogs erupted for 64 second-half points, shooting 56.7 percent from the field over the final 20 minutes to improve to 9–8 overall and 2–2 in SWAC play.
Dozier led Alabama A&M with 31 points, connecting on 9-of-14 shooting from the field and knocking down four three-pointers, while adding three assists and three rebounds. P.J. Eason finished with 12 points and a team-high 12 rebounds, recording a double-double. James Graham and
Koron Davis each scored 15 points, while
Gabe Kincy chipped in 12 points off the bench.
Sami Pissis tallied 12 points and four boards.
Jackson State was paced by Daeshun Ruffin, who scored a game-high 39 points, but the Tigers were unable to keep pace with Alabama A&M's balanced scoring and fast-break execution in the second half.
First Half
The Bulldogs opened the game strong, taking a 6–0 lead on baskets from
Sami Pissis and
Koron Davis. Jackson State responded with a flurry of three-pointers to regain the advantage, as the Tigers used a 9–0 run midway through the half to go in front.
Alabama A&M continued to answer behind Dozier's aggressive drives and perimeter shooting, tying the game multiple times. A late three-pointer by James Graham cut the deficit to four, but Jackson State closed the half on a scoring run to take a 40–36 lead into the locker room.
Second Half
The momentum shifted immediately after halftime. Alabama A&M forced back-to-back turnovers, leading to fast-break layups by Pissis and Davis to give the Bulldogs their first lead since the opening minutes.
A decisive 16–4 run pushed Alabama A&M ahead by double digits, capped by a three-pointer from Dozier and a tip-in dunk from Graham. The Bulldogs extended the lead to as many as 17 points midway through the half as Dozier continued to score from all three levels.
Jackson State attempted to rally behind Ruffin's scoring, trimming the margin to single digits with under two minutes remaining, but Alabama A&M sealed the win at the free-throw line. Kincy punctuated the night with a steal and fast-break dunk in the final seconds, pushing the Bulldogs to the 100-point mark.
By the Numbers
Alabama A&M finished the night shooting 51.8 percent from the field and outscored Jackson State 32–25 in fast-break points. The Bulldogs also held a 43–30 rebounding advantage and converted 34-of-43 free throws.
UP NEXT
Alabama A&M returns to action in one week (Monday, Jan. 19) as the Bulldogs take on rival Alabama State at the Bridge Builder Classic in Mobile, Ala. Tip-off against the Hornets is set for 4 p.m. from the Mitchell Center.
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