Final Boxscore

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Alabama State University men's basketball team used a second half surge to cruise to a 79-66 victory over across-town rival AUM Saturday night at ASU Acadome.

The Hornets (2-7), playing at home for the first time in nearly a month, earned their seventh consecutive win over the Senators (6-5) and snapped a five-game losing skid for the season. ASU is 2-0 at home this season and has now won seven in a row at the Acadome.

Robert Sanders scored a career-best 21 points to lead the Hornets, who also got double-digit performances from Menji Mundadi (17), Tramaine Butler (14) and Sekani Milligen (11). ASU shot a season-best 53 percent from the field and connected on eight three-pointers.

Daniel Quinlan finished with 11 points as the lone Senator in double figures.

The Hornets raced out of the gate seizing an 8-2 lead early in the contest. Alabama State continued to control the game building its largest lead, 18-11, with 11:48 left in the half.

AUM rallied behind a 12-4 run and earned its first lead of the game, 23-22, at the 8:10 mark. JaNorris Smith led the Senators' rally scoring seven points in the run.

After trading the lead several times over the next four minutes of action, ASU closed the half with a flurry outscoring AUM, 14-7, for a 44-36 halftime advantage. Sanders sparked the late surge for the Hornets scoring eight of the final 10 points.

The Senators opened the second half on a 7-2 run trimming their deficit to just three points after only two minutes of play. Sanders collected a soaring put-back slam dunk followed by back-to-back treys from Milligen allowing the Hornets to earn their first double-digit lead, 56-45, with 10:40 left in the game.

Mundadi scored seven straight points in a 9-0 run by ASU that appeared to put the game away with about five minutes remaining and a 19-point Hornets lead. However, AUM continued to battle and closed its deficit to single digits following an 11-1 run over the next three minutes of play.

ASU made free throws in the final minute to secure the double-figure victory.
 
Alabama State visits Auburn Tuesday at 7 p.m. before taking a break for Christmas. The Hornets then close out the 2009 calendar Dec. 28 against West Alabama at the Acadome.