The Alabama State University Hornets men’s basketball team defeated the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University Rattlers 62-53 Monday night, Feb. 5, inside the Dunn-Oliver Acadome.
Hornet guard C.J. Hines led the team with 19 points and two rebounds, while T.J. Madlock scored eight points with three assists. Center Ubong Okon finished with seven points and nine rebounds.
Rattler guard Jalen Speer put up a team-high 17 points, while forward Shannon Grant had 10 points and seven rebounds. Guard Jordan Chatman added 10 rebounds and two points.
Madlock scored the first basket of the game, a 2-pointer jumper. A 3-pointer from Hornet guard Kendal Parker evened the score at 8-8 with 10 minutes left in the first half. Hornet forward Jasteven Walker blocked Rattler forward Roderick Coffee III’s layup attempt.
A layup by Parker gave the Hornets a 14-12 advantage. Afterward, Hornets guard Micah Octave stole the ball, giving the Hornets possession. He followed it up with a layup, now making the lead 16-12.
With 6:56 until halftime, Rattler forward Keith Lamar was fouled and went to the free throw line, but he missed both free throws.
The Rattlers took the lead 18-16 following a 3-pointer by guard Morrell Schramm. The Hornets responded with a layup made by forward Darrell Reed. The Rattlers went on a 4-0 run to end the half with a 22-18 lead.
The Rattlers started the second half right where they left off, going on an 8-0 run capped off by a jumper from Grant.
Okon made a bucket in the paint to score the first point of the half for the Hornets. The Rattlers were up 29-22 with 16:26 to go in the game.
The Hornets slowly started to make a comeback, and a pair of free throws by Madlock helped the Hornets regain the lead, 31-29. Octave would steal the ball and make a fastbreak bucket. Hornet guard Amarr Knox also recorded a steal and made a layup.
The score tied at 41-41 with only 6:10 to go. The Hornets went on a 7-3 run, all of the points coming from Hines. The Hornets then went cold, missing five straight baskets.
Speer hit a 3-pointer, tying the game up at 51-51 with 1:24 left. After a timeout, Hines hit a 3-pointer of his own. Okon made clutch free throws to put the Hornets up 56-51.
Speer drained a 2-point jumper, but it was not enough as Hines went to the foul line for free throws after being fouled. Okon had a big block that led to Hines making a layup. Speers attempted a jumper as time expired in the game, but it was no good.
“Great win, we had some performances from some guys that needed to step up, and they stepped up,” head coach Tony Madlock said. “…We don’t do everything the right way, but they fight.”