Box Score GRAMBLING, La.—Jeffrey Middlebrooks and Philip Crawford led a balanced scoring attack with 14 points each to lead Alabama State University to a 73-62 win at Grambling University to open the Southwestern Athletic Conference season.
 
Tramaine Butler added 11 points and Ivory White had 10 to join in double digits and Ryan Watts came off the bench to add nine.
 
The Hornets shot a sizzling 58 percent in the second half (47 overall) and built the lead to as many as 18 points (60-42) with 7:31 left in the game.

ASU only committed eight turnovers and forced 16. Middlebrooks had another good game dishing the ball as he finished with six assists and only one turnover. 
 
The Hornets also had their best game of the season at the free throw line, knocking down 19 of their 23 attempts, led by Middlebrooks who hit six and Crawford added four.
 
Quincy Roberts, who finished with a game-high 33 points, was able to cut into ASU's 18-point lead with back-to-back threes, but Grambling could never get any closer than the final 11-point victory of margin.
 
“It was a good win, anytime you come on the road and get a win it is good,” head coach Lewis Jackson said.  “We were able to set the tone of how we wanted to play early and we pretty much stuck to it, but we have to learn how to close the game.”
 
“We kept giving them life back making bad fouls and turnovers and that can come back to get you in some ball games.  I am pleased with the first conference win and it is good with it coming on the road.”
 
In the first half ASU was able to build as much as an 11-point lead (25-14) at the 8:30 mark after two Middlebrooks free throws.  From there the Hornets went could from the field only scoring five points over the final eight and a half minutes.  The cold spell gave the Tigers an opportunity to get back in the game as they outscored the Hornets 11-5 during that time.
 
Roberts actually kept GSU in the game early as he scored the home team's first 12 points of the game, finishing with 16 first-half points.
 
Middlebrooks scored 10 first-half points and Butler had eight.
 
The win for ASU moved the Hornet to 4-9 overall and 1-0 in conference action.  The game was also the second consecutive win for the Hornets which was the first back to back wins for ASU this season.  Grambling falls to 0-11 and 0-1.
 
ASU will play at Jackson State, Thursday, Jan. 5 at 7:30 p.m.