HUNTSVILLE, Ala -- Alabama State University kept its unbeaten Southwestern Athletic Conference record intact Saturday night with a 69-57 win over instate rival Alabama A&M University.

The Hornets (8-7, 5-0) and the Bulldogs (3-10, 1-4) played for nearly five minutes before either team scored at T.M. Elmore Gymnasium. Two free throws by ASU's Brandon Brooks at the 15:03 mark broke the scoreless tie and sent the Hornets on an 8-0 run. 

Alabama A&M didn't get its first points until the 12:59 mark when Jonathan Belt hit a layup.

The Hornets built up a 13-point lead with six minutes left, but the Bulldogs cut that margin to seven, 33-26, by halftime.

Alabama A&M opened the second half with six unanswered points before ASU could get a free throw by Rashad Provitt at the 15:31 mark. Then Kudus Ogbara gave A&M its first share at the lead at 34-34.

A&M took its first lead of the game with 14:32 to play, kicking off a six-point run that the Hornets were able to match, knotting the score at 41-41.

The two teams traded baskets until ASU's Brooks hit a jump shot to give the Hornets a 54-53 lead, sparking an eight-point run that gave ASU a 10-point lead with just under a minute to play.

Brooks scored a season high of 29 points for the Hornets and Roland Fitch added 16.  In his debut, Wesley Jones scored 10 points and added five rebounds.

The Bulldogs were lead by Cornelius Hester with 13 points.  Jonathan Inman added 11 and Belt scored 10.

The Hornets return home Saturday, Jan. 24, to compete against the Jaguars of Southern University (2-15, 2-3). Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m. in the ASU Acadome. 

The ASU family, led by President William H. Harris, and men's head basketball coach Lewis Jackson will hold a special dedication ceremony at 5 p.m. to rename the basketball court in memory of former head basketball coach James V. Oliver.