LAS VEGAS, Nevada -- – It wasn't the prettiest of victories, but the Alabama State men's basketball team kept fighting and rallied down the stretch with huge plays to come away with a 76-67 overtime win over Cal State-Fullerton in the consolation game of the visitors' bracket in the Global Sports Classic tournament at UNLV's home court—the Thomas and Mack Center at Tarkanian Court—on Saturday.Alabama State (1-5) came back several times in a game that featured 14 ties and 11 lead changes with a game-tying bucket by Tony Armstrong in the closing seconds of regulation and then outscored the Titans 14-5 in overtime to earn their first victory of the season.
ASU was clutch from the line in overtime, making 8-of-9 from the stripe.
Armstrong scored off a nice post move to tie it at 62 all with just four seconds left, essentially sending the game into overtime.
In the overtime period, Armstrong scored on a tip in, Steve Rogers made 2-of-3 from the line after being fouled on a 3-point attempt and Amir Warnock knocked down a baseline jumper.
Armstrong scored on the inside once again to put ASU up 70-67 with 1:46 left.
After each team came up empty on their next possession, Glenn Hollaway came up with a defensive rebound and was fouled.
Hollaway hit a crucial pair of free throws to put ASU up 72-67 with just 43 seconds left.
A missed layup and missed 3-point attempt by CSUF put the Hornets in position to wrap it up with four more free throws from Simeon.
Simeon scored a game-high 24 points to the tune of 7-of-16 shooting including four 3-pointers and was 6-of-6 from the line.
He also recorded a career high seven steals, a block and grabbed seven rebounds.
Thomas finished with 16 points, six rebounds and four assists.
Armstrong closed with a double-double with 11 points and a game-best 15 rebounds.
ASU trailed 28-27 at halftime.
Thomas kept ASU close in the opening half as he got hot from 3-point range knocking down 3-of-4 from downtown and added 3-of-4 from the line to lead the Hornets with 12 points and three rebounds at halftime.
Warnock gave ASU the lead at 31-30 with 18:12 remaining when he used his body to his advantage in the post with a smooth move and score.
Warnock had 10 points and five rebounds, but fouled out in just 18 minutes of action.
The Titans (2-4) led by as many as seven with 10:09 left in the second half, but ASU kept playing until the end.
The Hornets cut the lead to 48-46 with under nine to play when Simeon knocked down a 3-pointer from the far side corner.
Simeon hit a 3-pointer to cut it to 60-58 with 1:55 remaining and then grabbed an important rebound on the other end.
Warnock grabbed an offensive rebound and got the put back to tie at 60-60.
CSUF hit 1-of-2 from the line to give a 61-60 lead, but the Hornets turned it over on a traveling violation with 23.5 seconds left.
It set the stage for Armstrong's bucket in the waning seconds of the game.
Next, Alabama State will host Jacksonville State (
3-3) on Tuesday from the Dunn-Oliver Acadome.
Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.
BOX SCORE
ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS
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