March 9, 2006

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Trey Johnson scored a game-high 26 points and Jackson State scored 22 points off 19 turnovers in an 83-65 defeat of Alabama State in the first round of the Southwestern Athletic Conference tournament at the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex Arena.

The fifth-seeded Tigers (12-15) advance to take on the winner of Thursday night's Southern-Alcorn State game Friday at 7:30 p.m.

Using a four-guard lineup that featured Johnson, Dakari Wallace, Charlie White and Catravia Givens, Jackson State never trailed and led by as many as 18 in the first half.

"We wanted to play to our strengths and it's our backcourt," Tigers head coach Tevester Anderson said.

Alabama State (12-18) would nail consecutive 3-pointers, the last by Dustin Richmond as time expired, to cut the ASU deficit to 39-27 at halftime. But the Hornets' fortunes would not get any better.

First, freshman forward Andrew Hayles - the team's second-leading scorer - was ejected after being called for a flagrant technical foul. Then, the Tigers embarked on a 12-2 run midway through the second half - capped by a Wallace 3-pointer - that pushed the Jackson State advantage to 57-35. JSU would build a margin as big as 24 points in the final period.

"We came out a little flat and couldn't get things going early in the first half. We couldn't get any shots to fall," ASU head coach Lewis Jackson said. "We were unable to get our game plan going and that's attributed to Jackson State."

Herbert Warren led the Hornets with 14 points and 10 rebounds while Alexander Oliver and Cedric Mitchell (10 points each) each scored in double figures. Wallace (16 points) and White (14 points) also had strong efforts for Jackson State.