ASU Hornets Pick Up Another Road Win at MVSU

ITTA BENA, Mississippi -- Jamel Waters scored 17 points and had a game-high nine assists in leading Alabama State to an 88-76 win at Mississippi Valley State to remain undefeated in conference play.

For the sixth time this season the Hornets had four players reach double digits as DeMarcus Robinson (15), Maurice Strong (14) and Bobby Brown (10) joined Waters in double figures.

MVSU also had four players in double digits led by Jeffery Simmons 20 points off the bench.  Latrell Love added 18 while Billy Jackson had 13 and Dwain Whitfield 12.  Jordan Washington came into the game as one of the top scorers in the conference averaging over 14 points per game.  The Hornets made it hard on him and he finished scoreless.

"I thought our guard play helped us have the slight lead going into halftime, but our defense has to get better," Head Coach Lewis Jackson said.  "They got to the free throw too much tonight and they penetrated against us even when we played zone."

"We gave up 70-something points and that is a lot of points for us to give up.  You know it's still a win on the road so we were able to get what we wanted and that was two wins, but we have got to get better."

With the Hornets holding a seven point lead coming out of the half, Robinson scored six straight points as ASU blew the game open out scoring MVSU 16-2 over the first four minutes of the second half and went on to lead by as many as 21 at 53-32.

MVSU (2-14/1-2 SWAC) was able to keep the score as close as it was by getting to the free throw line.  They shot 43 percent from the field and only hit 29 percent of their threes, but hit 25 of their 36 free throw attempts.

ASU (8-5/4-0 SWAC) shot 52 percent from the field and 33 percent from beyond the three point line.  ASU attempted 19 free throws hitting 13.  15 of those free throws came in the second half.

The Hornets did a better job of taking care of the basketball committing 11 turnovers while finishing the game with 22 assists on their 35 field goals. Robinson dished out a career-high seven assists and had a game-high four steals.

The Hornets shot 46 percent in the first half and took a 37-30 lead into the locker room at the half.  Robinson had eight and Strong added seven to lead ASU.

MVSU shot 39 percent in the opening 20 minutes and got 12 points from Simmons and 11 from Love, but it was at the free throw line where the Delta Devils was able to stay in the game.  They shot 17 free throws making 11 while the Hornets only shot four, making three.

ASU will end the three-game road swing at Alabama A&M Saturday, Jan. 17 in Huntsville.  The game is scheduled to tip off at 5 p.m. The game can be heard live on HornetVision at bamastatesports.com.

COURTESY ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION