Alabama State Hornets Fall at Texas Southern

HOUSTON, Texas  -- Alabama State fell into a tie for second place when they fell to Texas Southern 86-66 in a Southwestern Athletic Conference game.

The Tigers (13-14/9-6 SWAC) shot over 50 percent from the field in pulling even with the Hornets in the SWAC standings.  They hit six of 17 from beyond the three point line and hit 18 of 24 free throws.

The Hornets (15-11/9-6 SWAC) struggled shooting the ball finishing hitting only 38 percent from the field and that includes only hitting four of their 20 three point field goals and also struggled from the free throw line only hitting 10 of its 19 attempts.

"We have to get guys who want to play with the effort it takes to win games on defense," Head Coach Lewis Jackson said.  "Our last three ball games we have given up 86 points to all three of those opponents and we were fortunate enough to win one of those games at home but the other two we lost."

"We have to get people to change their minds because if we play like this the rest of the way we may not win another game."

Luther Page led ASU with 14 points and Maurice Strong added 10.  ASU's two leading scorers Jamel Waters and DeMarcus Robinson only managed 16 points combined with Robinson scoring nine and Waters seven.  Combined they were seven for 25 from the field.  Tony Armstrong came off the bench to score nine points.

D'Aris Scarver led TSU's offense with 21 points, but had plenty of offensive help.  D'Angelo Scott scored 13 and Lawrence Johnson-Danner scored 10.  ASU held the SWAC's leading scorer Aaric Murray to 11 points which is half of his 22 points per game average.

"You have to come out and match intensity and our guys, one through five, are not getting it done," Jackson said.  "Over these last three games we have to find some guys that are going to come out and play with some enthusiasm."

ASU also lost the rebounding battle 47-28 with Strong's six leading the Hornets.  Waters finished with a game-high seven assists and also added two steals.  The Hornets only turned the ball over five times while forcing 14 turnovers.

TSU came out in the first half and shot 58 percent (19-33) from the field.  They hit three of their nine three point attempts and six of eight from the free throw line.

Scarver led the Tigers effort with 17 first-half points as he hit eight of his 13 field goals.   Johnson-Danner added seven and Scott six.

For the Hornets Robinson had seven and Armstrong came off the bench to add six.  ASU only shot 34 percent (11-32) from the field and that includes hitting only two of their 11 three point field goal attempts and also struggled from the free throw line only shooting two of six.

ASU will continue its final road trip of the regular season with a game at Prairie View A&M trying to hang on to a tie for second place, Monday, March 3 at 7:30 p.m.

"This is what basketball is all about," Jackson said.  "Everyone is trying to do the little things to win ball games and right now we are sitting at 9-6 with TSU and these last ball games are going to be crucial and we have to step up and do our job.  On the road you want to try and win both games but if you get a split you are doing ok.  So we have an opportunity to get a split here at PV before going home.  But no matter where you play you have to come out and play with some energy and you have to play with some toughness."

Box Score

COURTESY ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS