After falling at Illinois and Bradley, the Alabama State University men's basketball team has evened its record at 2-2 by defeating Mobile at home and then traveling to Jacksonville State where they defeated the Gamecocks 84-73 Saturday evening.

The Hornets will look to move above .500 when they host Chicago State Monday at 7 p.m. in Dunn-Oliver Acadome. The two teams met last year in Chicago with the Cougars pulling away late in the game for a 67-54 victory.

With 13 new players on the team, one of the most important things the coaching staff has been trying to instill in the young team is defense. After giving up 80 or more points in the first two games, the past two teams have averaged 65 points per game.

"We are definitely not where we need to be, but the guys are starting to pick up on some of the things we are trying to teach them and it is beginning to show," Head Coach Lewis Jackson said. "ASU has always been known for the way we play defense and we will continue to work at getting better at it, but I am pleased with the growth they are showing right now."

Jamel Waters continues to lead ASU in scoring averaging 16 points per game while shooting 48 percent from the field. He has scored in double figures in three of the first four games, while also leading the Hornets in assists with 24.

DeMarcus Robinson struggled the first two games of the season, but has picked up his scoring pace over the past two games scoring 17 and15 points. He now has his average up to 11 points per game.

Bobby Brown has provided plenty of offense off the bench, averaging nine points and 3.5 rebounds per game. He is one of the top shooters on the team hitting 50 percent of his field goal attempts and 44 percent of his three point field goals.

The lone three-year player on the team is Luther Page and he has gotten off to the best start of his career. He is averaging 8.5 points per game and leads the Hornets in rebounding averaging five per game. He also leads ASU in field goal percentage at 57 percent.

ASU is also beginning to shoot their free throws better. After the first two games the Hornets were hitting a little over 50 percent from the free throw line. The last two games ASU has hit 75 percent from the line and pushed its season average up to 67 percent.

"We have some guys that can shoot the ball and we have been telling them if they are patient, that in our offense they will get some open looks at the basket," Jackson said. "Now they are showing more patience and it is beginning to show. It is also good we are beginning to hit our free throws. When we are patient on offense and are hitting our free throws we can put a lot of pressure on our opponents, but again, it is a work in progress and we have a lot of improving to do."

Chicago State enters the game with an identical 2-2 record. They have played two teams this season ASU has faced. They lost at Bradley (77-64) and defeated Jacksonville State (79-75).

The Cougars have three players averaging double figures with Quinton Pippen (14.3 ppg) leading the way. Matt Ross averages 14 and Clarke Rosenberg 13.5.

"Chicago State is a very talented team and we will need to work hard on defense to slow them down," Jackson said. "They get up and down the court, hit the boards hard and take a lot of threes. Our transition defense will be very crucial in how the game turns out."