Feb. 20, 2006

Final Stats

MONTGOMERY, Ala. - For a regular season battle, Alabama State's much anticipated rematch with Southern University and the return of former head coach Rob Spivery in front of a national television audience gave the Joe L. Reed Acadome a championship-type atmosphere Monday night.

The game would live up to its advanced hype, with the Lewis Jackson-led Hornets jumping out to a big lead in the first half and holding back a late Jaguar charge to post a 63-59 win over Southern. It was Alabama State's seventh consecutive victory, matching its longest winning streak since the 2002-03 season, when the Hornets won their first seven SWAC games. It also ties Grambling for the league's longest streak this season.

Akeim Claborn scored 25 points and snagged 10 rebounds to pace the Hornets (11-14, 9-5), who avenged their only loss in their last 10 games - an overtime loss in Baton Rouge.

The Hornets used the energy from the energized crowd to take an early lead. Down by three after the first six minutes, ASU used a 21-4 run over the next eight minutes to post its biggest lead of the game and one it would not relinquish. Three consecutive 3-pointers - two by Andrew Hayles, the other by Claborn - started the explosion, one that didn't end until consecutive layups by Herbert Warren made the score 28-14 with 5:49 left in the first half.

The Hornets continued their offensive onslaught all the way to the final buzzer, as Claborn drained another 3-pointer to give ASU a 35-24 advantage at halftime. It was the fifth of seven shot Bama State drained from beyond the 3-point arc on the night.

ASU scored first in the second half to take a 13-point lead but the Jaguars were far from finished. The Hornets offense - which had produced in abundance in the first half - dried up in the final 20 minutes, allowing Southern to make a run.

With 6:16 remaining, the Jaguars closed to within one point. But Hayles knocked down 3-pointers on the Hornets' next two possessions to push their advantage to 57-51. Southern would close to within two but a breakaway dunk by Claborn emphatically sealed the deal for Alabama State.

Richard Lott, Jr. finished with 13 points and seven rebounds and Hayles scored 12 to pace the Hornets' attack. Three players scored in double figures for Southern, led by Peter Cipriano's 16 points and 11 rebounds.