LORMAN, Miss.—Alabama State University men's basketball team has arrived in Lorman, Miss., and is putting in the final preparations for their game against Alcorn State on Saturday, Jan. 21 at 4 p.m.

The Hornets (7-10/4-1 SWAC) enter the game tied for second in the Southwestern Athletic Conference with Texas Southern. Alcorn State (3-14/1-5 SWAC) has struggled early in the conference season picking up wins, but that does not mean they have been playing bad. They have lost three of their conference games by eight points or less, including a one-point loss to Grambling.

The Braves are led in scoring by Marquiz Baker who averages 11 points per game. Kendrick McDonald also averages in double digits at 10.2 points per game. Ian Francis leads the team in rebounds averaging six per game and Mississippi State transfer Chris Brand, is averaging seven points and four rebounds.

The Hornets will go into the game shorthanded as leading scorer Kenderek Washington will miss his second consecutive game. The Hornets will again look to Stephawn Brown to step into Washington's starting role. Brown had an outstanding game in relief in ASU's win over Alabama A&M with nine points, seven rebounds, two steals and a blocked shot.

Tramaine Butler continues his assault on becoming the Hornets 27^th career 1,000 point scorer and is averaging right at 12 points per game. He enters the game with 915 career points.

Philip Crawford and Ivory White continue to be solid for the Hornets. White is averaging 9.4 points and 5.8 rebounds per game and has the task of guarding the opposition's top scorer. Crawford is averaging 9.8 points and 6.1 rebounds per outing.

"We have to continue to work on improving on offense," head coach Lewis Jackson said. "We have to do a better job of getting into our sets and making an extra pass to set up open shots."

While the Hornets offense has struggled at times this season, the defense has started showing signs of progressing into one of the top scoring defenses in the conference. Since the conference season has begun, the Hornets defense is only giving up 63.2 points per game and holding its last two opponents, Arkansas-Pine Bluff to 56 points and Alabama A&M to 50. ASU is presently third in the conference overall, allowing 67.6 points per game.

“We are playing hard on the defensive end of the court,” Jackson said. “We are doing a better job with our rotation on defense and blocking out. And I am happy with the effort they are giving.”

ASU will have its hands full with Alcorn State as they enter the game with the fourth ranked offense in the conference. They are scoring 61.2 points per game, which trails only Mississippi Valley, Prairie View and Southern.

The game will be carried live on WVAS FM.

Alabama State will be on the road for five of its next seven games and will continue the current road trip at Southern University on Monday, Jan. 23 at 7:30 p.m.