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Pettway, Hornets Burn Tigers
By Josh Moon
Montgomery Advertiser
About midway through Alabama State's conference opener against Jackson State Saturday night, ASU head coach Rob Spivery saw something he couldn't believe. The Tigers were attempting to let Cliff Walker play man-to-man defense on Hornet center Alvin Pettway without help.
Pettway made the Tigers pay for that decision over and over, pouring in 23 points in leading ASU to 70-58 victory at Joe Reed Acadome.
"That really surprised me that they played him that way," said Spivery. "In all the tapes we watched of them they always played two or three players on the other team's center. I was sure happy to see it."
The decision didn't hurt Pettway's feelings either.
"I was loving it," Pettway said. "I couldn't really believe it. In the first half, I was taking a long time to get my shots off because I was waiting on a double team. In the second half, I was just having fun.""
The Hornets also were hitting Jackson State with tough defensive pressure, especially in the first half.
Jackson hit just 5-of-24 shots from the field and turned the ball over six times in the opening period.
But that tough defense came with a price, as the Hornets were whistled for seven fouls and gave up 13 points on JSU free throws.
"We were just fouling to much," said Spivery. "Half of their points come from the free throw line and that was way too many."
Pettway scored eight to lead ASU to a 26-25 lead at the half.
In the second half, Keith Gamble came to life. He hit his first three shots -- all 3-pointers -- and had a fourth 3-pointer taken away from him on a basket interference call.
"We talked about taking control of the game in the second half in the locker room at halftime," said Spivery. "Keith certainly did that for us. Those were some big-time shots he knocked down."
Gamble's shooting got the Hornets started on what would become a 19-3 ASU run over the first seven minutes of the half.
"When we're getting good looks inside and Keith is knocking down shots like he was, we're a tough team to beat," said Pettway. "We showed how good we can be during the first few minutes of the second half. We were really playing good."
The Tigers never recovered from that ASU run, as they trailed by double digits most of the way down the stretch.
Gamble scored 17 for ASU and Malcolm Campbell added 10.
ASU will next play Grambling State at home on Monday at 8 p.m.
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Ref: M/Advertiser
By Josh Moon
Montgomery Advertiser
About midway through Alabama State's conference opener against Jackson State Saturday night, ASU head coach Rob Spivery saw something he couldn't believe. The Tigers were attempting to let Cliff Walker play man-to-man defense on Hornet center Alvin Pettway without help.
Pettway made the Tigers pay for that decision over and over, pouring in 23 points in leading ASU to 70-58 victory at Joe Reed Acadome.
"That really surprised me that they played him that way," said Spivery. "In all the tapes we watched of them they always played two or three players on the other team's center. I was sure happy to see it."
The decision didn't hurt Pettway's feelings either.
"I was loving it," Pettway said. "I couldn't really believe it. In the first half, I was taking a long time to get my shots off because I was waiting on a double team. In the second half, I was just having fun.""
The Hornets also were hitting Jackson State with tough defensive pressure, especially in the first half.
Jackson hit just 5-of-24 shots from the field and turned the ball over six times in the opening period.
But that tough defense came with a price, as the Hornets were whistled for seven fouls and gave up 13 points on JSU free throws.
"We were just fouling to much," said Spivery. "Half of their points come from the free throw line and that was way too many."
Pettway scored eight to lead ASU to a 26-25 lead at the half.
In the second half, Keith Gamble came to life. He hit his first three shots -- all 3-pointers -- and had a fourth 3-pointer taken away from him on a basket interference call.
"We talked about taking control of the game in the second half in the locker room at halftime," said Spivery. "Keith certainly did that for us. Those were some big-time shots he knocked down."
Gamble's shooting got the Hornets started on what would become a 19-3 ASU run over the first seven minutes of the half.
"When we're getting good looks inside and Keith is knocking down shots like he was, we're a tough team to beat," said Pettway. "We showed how good we can be during the first few minutes of the second half. We were really playing good."
The Tigers never recovered from that ASU run, as they trailed by double digits most of the way down the stretch.
Gamble scored 17 for ASU and Malcolm Campbell added 10.
ASU will next play Grambling State at home on Monday at 8 p.m.
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Ref: M/Advertiser
