A&M's Otis puts on a show
Senior scores 18 points in rout of Nashville All-Stars
11/18/03
By REGGIE BENSON
Times Sports Staff
reggieb@htimes.com
Otis Walker has struggled mightily in his first three seasons at Alabama A&M. Blessed with size, strength and speed, he has been one of the Bulldogs' most disappointing players.
Walker, a former Weaver High star, didn't disappoint Monday night.
The 6-foot-7, 230-pound senior scored a career-high 18 points on 9-of-9 shooting and grabbed a career-high 11 rebounds as A&M pounded the Nashville All-Stars 122-80 Monday night at Elmore Gym in its final preseason exhibition game.
"Otis was the man," A&M coach Vann Pettaway said. "His play was a big surprise."
Walker's play wasn't the only surprise.
Terry Horton scored a career-high 36 points on 13-of-20 shooting, including 4-of-8 from 3-point range. Andre Matthews scored 15 points and grabbed 16 rebounds, while Obie Trotter scored 11 points, had 12 assists, seven steals and just two turnovers in 25 minutes.
"This is about what I expected," Pettaway said.
The Bulldogs bolted to a 23-8 lead less than five minutes into the game. By intermission, they had pushed their lead to a whopping 66-33.
Former Vanderbilt guard Sam Howard led Nashville with 32 points. Former A&M star Desmond Cambridge finished with 10 points.
A&M opens the season Friday night at Jacksonville State.
Alabama A&M 91, Alabama Fire 67 (W): The Lady Bulldogs needed just 90 seconds to put out the Alabama Fire.
Clinging to a one-point lead three minutes into the second half, Tanisha Wilson, Davida Webster and Aleshia McCord combined for four 3-pointers during that stretch to turn a one-point lead into an 11-point advantage as A&M went on to record its second win in as many exhibition games this season.
"This is the best we've shot since I've been here," said A&M coach Altherias Warmley, after watching his team shoot 51 percent from the field, including 56 percent from beyond the arc.
Kim Pratcher came off the bench to score a game-high 13 points for the Lady Bulldogs. Webster finished with 12 points, Tamika Green had 11 and Show Smith and Kaysha Williamson had 10 apiece.
A&M opens the season at home on Nov. 26 against Jacksonville State.