Alabama State had five double-digit scorers led by Maurice Strong’s season-high 16 as the Hornets knocked off Jacksonville State 80-55.
The Hornets shot 52 percent from the field and also hit four of their nine three point attempts for 44.4 percent. If the Hornets struggled it was from the free throw line where they only shot 56 percent (14-25).
DeMarcus Robinson scored 13 points on six-of-nine shooting. Brandon Graham, Jamel Waters and Bobby Brown all scored 11 points each. Waters scored all of his points in the second half, missing most of the first half with foul trouble. He also had a game-high six assists.
ASU (3-3) out-rebounded Jacksonville State (5-4) 47-37. Strong, Luther Page and Brown all grabbing eight each to lead ASU.
ASU’s defense held the Gamecocks to only31 percent shooting from the field. JSU was coming off an impressive win over Winthrop and had won five consecutive games before ASU was able to slow them down.
JSU’s Jeremy Watson caused the Hornets a lot of problems as he scored a game-high 28 points and had another game-high in rebounds with 18.
The Hornets took a 41-25 lead into halftime after shooting 50 percent from the field and holding the Gamecocks to only 31 percent. Brown led ASU with 10 first-half points and Robinson added eight.