March 3, 2007

Final Stats

Grambling, La. - Alabama State fell to Grambling State Saturday night 76-70 in what was each team's last game of the regular season.

The Hornets held a 33-29 halftime lead behind some hot shooting from an unlikely source - Joel Bosh who scored ASU's first 9 points - and a very likely source - Andrew Hayles -who scored eight.

Even though Grambling shot 44%, the Tiger's leading scoring Andre' Ratliff was held to only four points on 4-11 shooting.

The second half, though, was an entirely different story as GSU shot an astounding 61% from the floor on the way to putting up 47 points. Hayles' did what he could to keep ASU in the game, scoring 11 points, including two deep 3-pointers.

Still, the Hornets weren't able to overcome a huge free throw disparity (36-18 ), and four players - Hayles, Bosh, Dustin Richmond and Tahrea Jackson - fouling out.

Ratliff found his stroke in the second half and led GSU (10-19, 8-10 SWAC) with 18 points. Anthony Williams had 17 points and 11 rebounds. Jamal Breaux and Kendrick Baker added 16 and 15 points, respectively.

For the Hornets (10-19, 8-10 SWAC), Hayles finished with 19 points. Bosh had 13 and Jackson scored 10.

With the loss, ASU finishes in 8th place in the SWAC standings and will face Mississippi Valley State - the SWAC regular season champions - in the first round of the conference tournament on Wednesday night at 8 p.m.