Box Score MONTGOMERY—Kenderek Washington and Ivory White combined for 30 points, but it was not enough as Alabama State University (5-10/2-1) dropped a 67-60 decision to Mississippi Valley State University (3-11/2-0).
 
Playing their third game in five days may have turned out to be too much for the Hornets as the Devils came out and supplied defensive pressure and pushed the ball up the court to keep control of the pace of the game.
 
The tactic seemed to work as ASU only shot 27 percent in the second half and at one time missed five consecutive free throws as they were trying to fight their way back into the game.
 
Paul Crosby, who finished with nine points, put MVSU in the lead with a basket with 10:46 left in the game, and ASU never regained the lead.
 
MVSU pushed the lead out to 11 points (61-50) with 1:17 left in the game on a Terrence Joyner basket, but the Hornets were not going down without a fight.
 
White scored six consecutive points, with four of those coming on a four-point play, to cut the lead to 56-61.  Following an ASU foul, the visitors missed the front end of a one-and-one, but Blake Ralling was able to corral the offensive rebound and hit two ensuing free throws to push the lead back to seven (63-56).
 
Washington added another three with 31 seconds left to again cut the lead to four (63-59) and a free throw from Cor-J Cox made it 64-59.  The last point for ASU came on a free throw from Jeffrey Middlebrooks and MVSU was able to add three more free throws in the final seconds for the final score.
 
“We did not execute coming down the stretch and they beat us on the offensive glass,” head coach Lewis Jackson said.  “We missed too many shots around the basket and too many free throws at the end of the game.  We also don't block out and give up an offensive rebound on the foul shot and they were able to score two more points.”
 
“We gave away the opportunity because we were in position to win the game and we did not take advantage of it.  It was a good hard fought game and I thought they took advantage around the basket and we did not.  You have to give Valley credit.  They came in with the right attitude and that is something we tell our guys that you have to have the right attitude and the right approach.  It was a tough loss, but it is a long season and we can learn from this right here.”
 
Washington scored 17 points and White finished with 13 while Middlebrooks had 10 points.  Stephawn Brown came off the bench to add four points and a game-high 11 rebounds.
 
Joyner had 17 points to lead MVSU and Falando Jones had 12.  MVSU shot 48 percent from the field and that includes 50 percent (7-14) from beyond the three-point line.
 
ASU did not shoot the ball well in the first half but still managed a 34-31 lead heading into the locker room behind nine points from Washington and seven each from Tramaine Butler and Middlebrooks.  ASU finished the first half shooting 37 percent from the field but only turned the ball over three times, while forcing 11 from MVSU.
 
Jones lead MVSU with 10 first-half points as MVSU shot 48 percent from the field and hit four of their eight three point attempts while out rebounding the Hornets 20-19.
 
ASU will be back in action for the fourth time in seven days when they host the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff Monday, Jan. 9 at 7:30 p.m.