MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- Bobby Brown led a trio of double-digit scoring Hornets with 16 points as Alabama State finished the pre-conference part of their schedule with a 76-65 win over Fort Valley State.
It was a game that has been a lot like several of ASU's games as they had a hot-shooting opening half and then their shooting fell off in the second half.
"It was a tough ball game," Head Coach Lewis Jackson said. "Coming in off the Christmas break we needed a game before conference play and we wanted to try and work on some things. I'm certainly glad we got to play one because if it had been a SWAC game we probably would have lost tonight."
"We are trying to be a better team offensively in our half court and that is something we have to consistently work on. We didn't shoot free throws well and it was just a tough ball game overall."
Wendell Lewis scored 13 points and Luther Page came off the bench to score 11. ASU finished the game shooting 44 percent for the game, and that includes 36 percent from beyond the three point line. ASU also struggled from the free throw line hitting 14 of their 27 attempts (52%).
The Hornets (4-5) looked to break open the game coming out of the locker room in the second half outscoring FVSU 13-4 to build their largest lead of the game at 54-34.
After that the Wildcats (0-8) fought their way back into the game and cut the lead to nine points on a couple of occasions, the last at 69-60 after a three point field goal from Ralph Wilson, who scored 13 points.
Derrick Spear scored a game-high 18 points for FVSU and Tyrone Brinson came off the bench to score 14 as the visitors finished the game shooting 44 percent from the field.
FVSU came into the game only averaging five three point field goals per game, but every time the Hornets would pull away FVSU would sink a long range jumper, finishing the game with eight.
"We have to get better defensively," Jackson said. "We gave up 60-something points tonight, almost 70, and we have to get better defensively."
"Our wings have to keep the players out of the lane we have to really work on that. I think our bigs are playing decent around the basket, and we have to rebound the ball better. We have always been a good rebounding team as well as defensively, so we have to continue to work on these things that are going to allow us to have success when our offense is not working that well. You have to be able to stop somebody on the defensive end."
The Hornets used a 52 percent shooting performance in the opening half on its way to building a 41-30 halftime lead. Part of that hot-shooting was knocking down five of their 10 three point field goals.
Brown led the way with eight points, including opening the game with a three-point field goal and being fouled on the play. With the free throw it was the Hornets first four-point play of the season.
Lewis also scored eight points in the opening half and Robinson added seven.
ASU's defense held the Wildcats to 39 percent shooting in the opening 20 minutes, but the visitors, started hitting three pointers early and hit four in the first half to stay close. Wilson and Spear had six points each to lead FVSU.
ASU will continue its three-game home stand and will jump into conference play hosting Grambling Saturday, Jan. 3 at 5 p.m. Check bamastatesports.com for all your up-to-date basketball news leading to the game.
COURTESY ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
