ASU Hornets Beat UAPB

MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- Alabama State started their three-game home stand with a 73-55 win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff. The win was the first game of the second half of the Southwestern Athletic Conference season.

"It was good to win," Head CoachLewis Jackson said. "I thought defensively we really got after them and tried to take away some of the things they like to run, especially with Mosley because he is a good scorer. We wanted to try and limit his touches and DeMarcus Robinson did a really good job on him."

"Defensively all our guys got out and competed and tried to take things away from them they were trying to do."

Mosley came into the game leading the SWAC in scoring averaging over 17 per game. He finished the game with seven points on two-of-10 shooting and missed both his three point attempts.

Tevin Hammond led UAPB (7-17/4-6 SWAC) with 15 points and was the only Golden Lion to reach double digits in scoring. UAPB did shoot 49 percent from the field, and that includes a blistering 60 percent in the second half.

In the first meeting at Pine Bluff, the Golden Eagles hit 10 three-point baskets and actually came into the game leading the conference in made threes, but the Hornets defense tonight limited UAPB to only five of 13 on their three point shots.

Jamel Waters led a trio of Hornets with 15 points. DeMarcus Robinson added 13 and Maurice Strong scored 11. The Hornets only shot 39 percent from the field, but did hit seven of their 18 three point field goals for 39 percent and hit 30 of its 41 free throws for 73 percent.

"We didn't really shoot the ball well tonight, but we did shoot good enough to get a victory," Jackson said. "We started making some free throws there again at the end of the game and we wanted to take advantage of our size down around the basket and tonight we were able to utilize that."

ASU (13-6/9-1 SWAC) only trailed one time during the game and that was 8-7 after a Ghiavonni Robison three pointer. Bobby Brown answered that three with one of his own just 16 seconds later and ASU never trailed again. The Hornets led by as many as 16 (28-12) in the first half and its largest lead was 19 points (44-25) with 17 minutes left in the game.

ASU's defense forced 19 turnovers and turned those into 24 points. The Hornets also had 11 offensive rebounds as part of their 29 total rebounds, and was able to score 10 second chance points.

ASU was able to take a 36-23 lead into the locker room at halftime as Robinson ended the half with his first three point field goal of the game. ASU shot 41 percent, but with UAPB backing off into the lane ASU did hit four of its eight three point attempts.

ASU was also able to get the ball in the paint early which caused a lot of Golden Lions fouls. The Hornets hit 14 of its 20 free throws in the first half as Robinson and Strong led the way with nine points each.

UAPB shot 38 percent from the field and hit three of their eight three point attempts. Robinson led UAPB with six first half points.

ASU will continue its current home stand as they play host to Mississippi Valley State Monday Feb. 9 at 7:30 p.m. It is Faith and Family Night and the fans will be able to meet the student-athletes from the spring sports of baseball, bowling, golf, and tennis and track and field teams and get team schedule posters.

BOX SCORE

COURTESY ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION