ORLANDO, Fla.—Alabama State will end the season-opening road trip with a game at the University of Central Florida Tuesday at 6 p.m. in the UCF Arena.
 
The Hornets (0-2) are looking for their first win of the season after playing two teams in Middle Tennessee State (RV) and Florida (10^th) that are receiving votes on the national level.
 
Tuesday's game will not be any easier as Central Florida (1-0) enters the game coming off a season opening 74-56 win over South Florida.  The Knights have won 22 consecutive non-conference home games.
 
The coaching staff has spent the day getting ready for the Knights and they are also working on making sure the team stays positive even though the first two games did not go the way they wanted.
 
“We keep the guys loose and there is open dialogue all the time and we keep the lines of communication open,” Head Coach Lewis Jackson said.  “With a young group like we have all of the coaches are in the guy's ear and keeping them upbeat and making sure they are feeling good about themselves.  We want them to know they have another opportunity tomorrow to come out compete and try to get better.
 
In UCF's opening win the five starters played 166 of the 200 minutes of the game and scored 72 of the team's 74 points.  Four of the starters scored double digits led by Isaiah Sykes 26 points.  Keith Clanton had 16 points and game-high 16 rebounds while Tristan Spurlock had 14 points and Kasey Wilson finished with 13.
 
“They play about six guys and their starters played most of the minutes,” Jackson said.  “Their big guys like to step out and shoot the three a lot like Florida did, but they are not as big as Florida.  We look forward to the challenge tomorrow and we are going to work hard to keep them off the boards.”
 
The Hornets have two first-year players leading the Hornets in scoring through the first two games of the season.  Joshua Freelove is averaging 12 points per game and Bobby Brown is coming off the bench and averaging 11 points per game.

-Hornets-