MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- Jamel Waters only scored four points but none was bigger than his two free throws with six seconds left and Alabama State clinging to a 56-54 lead. Those two free throws gave the Hornets a two possession lead which was all the Hornets needed in the 58-54 win."It was an ugly game and it was hard fought, very physical and we didn't shoot the ball well," Head Coach Lewis Jackson. "Our guys stayed the course and we persevered down the stretch."
After scoring a career-high 22 points in ASU's last outing, junior Luther Page again led the Hornets with a game-high 20 points. Brandon Graham scored a career-high 16 points as those two were the only two Hornets to reach double digits.
"Luther has played well for us the last couple of games and we need his leadership," Jackson said. "He talks on the floor and he understands the defense we are trying to get done and he has been doing a good job of posting up, finding the open guys for open shots."
"Brandon Graham did a good job of moving around without the ball and making some shots. He also did a good job of getting in there and getting some rebounds."
The game was close the entire 40 minutes with neither team holding more than a six-point lead. Alcorn (7-12/4-3 SWAC) held a 52-49 lead with 3:30 left in the game, but the Hornets defense stepped up and held the Braves to only a field goal the rest of the game as ASU outscored the home team 9-2.
Both teams struggled from the field and ASU (11-6/5-1 SWAC) finished the game hitting 34 percent from the field and only hit four of their 21 three point attempts for 19 percent. The Hornets only shot 10 free throws but knocked down eight of them.
Graham almost completed a double-double with nine rebounds while Page added six and Bobby Brown five. Waters had a game-high three assists as ASU finished with 10.
Alcorn's leading scorer was Octavius Brown with 13 points. Anthony Evans and Marquis Vance had 12 each. Brown also led Alcorn's rebounding effort with a game-high 11.
Alcorn shot 37 percent from the field and like the Hornets they struggled on their three point field goals only hitting four of their 15 attempts for 27 percent. Alcorn hit six of its 13 free throws.
"We told the guys we could not come in here and rely on our offense and expecting our outside shot to be as good as it has been and if it is that's good and well," Jackson said. "Our defense was certainly going to have to stand up and I thought holding them to 58 points was good. Again, it was not pretty but that's the sign of a team that is trying to grow up."
The first half saw Alcorn's Evans throw up a three at the horn to give the Braves a 24-21 halftime lead. Vance led Alcorn with six points and Evans had five.
ASU struggled from the field but Page was able to score nine first-half points while Brandon Graham hit two three point field goals for six points.
ASU continues the present road trip with a game at Southern Monday, Jan. 27 with the tip off scheduled for 7:30 p.m. The game will be for first place in the conference as Southern has a half game lead on the Hornets.
Box Score
COURTESY ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
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