The Alabama State University Hornets men’s basketball team fell to SWAC (Southwestern Atlantic Conference) foe, the Grambling State University Tigers, 77-67 Feb. 8 in the Dunn-Oliver Acadome.
The Tigers shot a 42% 3-point percentage compared to the Hornets 33%. They also out-rebounded the Hornets 40-28.
The Tigers were exceptional at the free-throw line, making 81% of their attempts, while the Hornets made 39%.
The Hornets had four players score double-digit points. Guard Amarr Knox led the team with 17 points and four assists. T.J. Madlock scored 15 points, six rebounds and four assists. C.J. Hines and Jasteven Walker each contributed 11 points.
Tigers point guard Kintavious Dozier put up a season-high 30 points, with 21 of those points coming from beyond the arc.
The Tigers were up 4-0 early against the Hornets. A 3-pointer from Hines put the first point on the board for the team. Walker came up with a big block in the paint on Tigers guard Louis Hutchinson. Tigers forward Antwan Burnett was fouled by Madlock and made a pair of free throws. The Hornets turned the ball over, and Dozier capitalized with a three. Madlock missed a 3-point shot that was rebounded and put back in with a dunk by Walker.
Things were tied up 16-16 with 10:17 to go until halftime after a jumper by Madlock. The Tigers went on an 11-3 run, where the Hornets would turn the ball over four times. Tigers guard Mikale Stevenson’s steal would lead to a transition dunk by forward Emeka Nnaji. The Hornets went into halftime down 38-28.
Burnett rebounded his missed shot and tipped it back in for the putback score. The Tigers called a timeout after a 3-pointer from Hornets guard Micah Simpson, which cut the deficit to six points. The Tigers went on a 9-1 run, and another triple from Dozier put them up 56-42.
With 4:55 remaining, The Hornets went on an 11-0 run. Knox assisted on a 3-pointer by Madlock. The Hornets regained possession with a steal by Madlock, who took it for a fastbreak score. The Hornets were unable to close the gap anymore as the Tigers defense held them off from making a last-minute run.