Alabama A&M 66, Jackson State 59
HUNTSVILLE, ALA. – Julian Walters had 15 points and 11 rebounds in his final home game for AAMU, leading the Bulldogs to their third win of the season with a 66-59 victory against Jackson State on Saturday evening.
Alabama A&M improved to 3-28 overall and 3-15 in Southwestern Athletic Conference play. Jackson state fell to 12-19 overall and 9-9 in league play.
Andre Kennedy added 14 points and eight rebounds, while Marcus Merriweather contributed 13 points for Alabama A&M. The Bulldogs shot 51 percent (23-45) from the floor while limiting the Tigers to 25-of-73 shooting (34 percent).
An 11-2 run to open up the game, gave AAMU an early lead in the first five minutes of the first half. The Tigers hung tough, as they would all night, and crept back within six points before halftime. A three pointer from Merriweather and Evan Wiley at the end of the first half pushed the Bulldogs’ lead back to double digits as they took a 32-18 lead at the break.
After Jackson State made a bucket to open the second half, Alabama A&M went on a quick 11-4 run to extend their lead to 19 with 15:13 left in the game. The teams continued to trade made baskets the remainder of the game before Jackson State’s Jeremiah Bozeman used a layup to close the gap back to single digits, 62-55, with 1:02 left in the game.
Arthur Johnson responded with a jumper, which was shortly followed by another layup from Bozeman with 16 seconds remaining. A pair of made free throws for Merriweather with 14 seconds left to play, allowed the Bulldogs to breathe as they secured the victory.
Maurice Rivers led Jackson State with 13 points. Bozeman and Treshawn Bolden added 12 points apiece.
Jackson State earned the No. 5 seed in the SWAC Men’s Basketball Tournament and will play at No. 4 Southern on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. in a quarterfinal match up.
–Alabama A&M Sports Information
Texas Southern 78, Alcorn State 71
LORMAN MS. – Tiger Southern broke a stalemate in the last six minutes to grab a 78-71 decision over the Alcorn State University men’s basketball program Saturday at the Davey L. Whitney Complex.
The game was tied 61-61 when TSU (12-19, 12-6 SWAC) went on a decisive 12-2 run to take a 10-point lead down the stretch.
The Tigers were 21-of-22 from the free throw line in the second half. They turned the ball over just five times in the game.
Freshman Troymain Crosby poured in a career-high 20 points and pulled down six rebounds to lead the Braves (11-20, 7-11 SWAC). Junior Dante Sterling ended with 12 points and sophomore Maurice Howard 11.
Both senior A.J. Mosby and sophomore Devon Brewer flirted with double-doubles. Mosby ended with 10 points, nine assists, five rebounds and four steals. Brewer tallied nine points and a career-high nine rebounds.
The Tigers were led by Donte Clark who registered 24 points and was 11-of-12 from the line. Marquis Salmon recorded 13 points and 23 rebounds.
Texas Southern earned the No. 3 seed and will host No. 6 Alabama State on Tuesday at 8:00 p.m. in a SWAC Basketball Tournament quarterfinal. No. 7 Alcorn State will play at No. 2 Prairie View A&M on Tuesday at 8:30 p.m. in another quarterfinal match up.
–Alcorn State Sports Information
Prairie View A&M 77, Southern 69
BATON ROUGE, LA – The Panthers rallied from an eight-point halftime deficit to outscore the host Jaguars 49-33 after the break to pick up the road win at the F.G. Clark Activity Center.
Gary Blackston led PVAMU (15-17, 12-6 SWAC) with 24 points, four assists, four rebounds and a steal while Zachary Hamilton added 22 points, six rebounds, two assists and two steals.
The Jaguars (14-17, 10-8 SWAC) received a spread attack (Chris Thomas and Eddie Reese 13 points apiece, Jared Sam 12 points and Emanuel Shepard seven points and 10 rebounds).
Prairie View A&M clinched the No. 2 seed and will host Alcorn State in a quarterfinal match of the SWAC Men’s Basketball Tournament on Tuesday at 8:30 p.m.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff 94, Mississippi Valley State 57
PINE BLUFF, ARK. – Four Golden Lions scored in double digits as Arkansas-Pine Bluff rolled to a big victory on 51 percent shooting from the floor in front of their home crowd at the H.O. Clemmons Arena on Saturday night to clinch the No. 1 seed for the Toyota SWAC Men’s Basketball Tournament.
UAPB (12-20, 12-6 SWAC) will host Mississippi Valley State in a rematch on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. in a quarterfinal match up.
Martaveous McKnight scored 18 points with five assists and four steals and Joe’Randle Toliver added 16 points seven assists, and four steals as the Golden Lions took a 17-point lead into halftime and built upon it to run away with it.
Trent Steen had 14 points, eight rebounds, two blocks and two steals while Hardy Quamauri scored 13 points.
Dante Scott led the Delta Devils (4-27, 4-14 SWAC) with 20 points.
Courtesy: SWAC
