Box Score NORMAL—Alabama State University (9-16/6-6 SWAC) outscored Alabama A&M University (5-16/3-9 SWAC) 13-2 over the final 3:45 of the game to turn a 45-44 deficit into a 57-47 win and in the process, break a two-game losing streak.
 
It all started with Philip Crawford's two free throws with 3:45 left that gave Alabama State University a 45-44 lead and on the next possession Ryan Watts hit a long three with the shot clock winding down to give the Hornets a four-point lead (48-44) and send ASU on their way.
 
Watts was a big part of the final run scoring seven of his nine points during the run and Crawford contributing four.  Ivory White closed out the scoring with two free throws with 34 seconds left.
 
“Ryan Watts had a big game for us tonight,” head coach Lewis Jackson said.  “He knocked down a couple of big free throws and really hit a big three that helped give us some momentum.  Philip Crawford also played hard for us in the paint.  He was able to get in on a lot of plays both on offense and defense.  Brown had a strong night for us probably as good as he has been this season.  He hit a lot of shots and they were good shots he took.”
 
Stephawn Brown led ASU with a career and game-high 15 points.  The junior also grabbed six rebounds and was seven of 10 from the field.
 
Crawford finished with 14 points and six boards while Tramaine Butler, playing through an injury, scored nine points and had three rebounds and two assists.
 
Ivory White had an off night scoring with only six points, but he had a team-high seven rebounds with two blocks and two steals.
 
ASU struggled shooting the ball, but hit their final four shots and hit their final four free throws to pick up the bad shooting night.  ASU finished the game shooting 37 percent from the field and 59 percent (10-17) from the free throw line, but hit eight of their nine attempts in the second half.
 
The Hornets out rebounded AAMU 36-35, but at one time the Bulldogs held a 27-18 rebounding edge.  ASU also did a good job with only six turnovers while forcing AAMU into 17.
 
“We talked a little bit at halftime about what we needed to do in the second half,” Jackson said.  “A lot of what we wanted to do was hold them to one shot and then get the rebound, and we did a good job of doing that late in the game.  “We also used a lot of people in the game and had to depend on them so this was a good team victory.”
 
Casey Canty led AAMU with 12 points and Jeremy Crutcher added 11.  DeMarquelle Tabb had seven points and led AAMU with seven rebounds.
 
The Bulldogs shot 41 percent from the field and, like ASU, struggled from the free throw line, only hitting 12 of their 24 attempts.
 
The Bulldogs went into halftime with a 27-26 lead.  AAMU shot 48 percent from the floor and was able to knock down five of their eight free throw attempts.  AAMU also out-rebounded ASU 16-14 in the opening half.  AAMU's scoring was spread out but Crutcher led the way with eight points.
 
The Hornets shot 44 percent from the field, but bad free throw shooting continued to hurt the Hornets as they only connected on two of their eight attempts.  Butler and Brown led the way with seven points each, with Butler's three at the horn cutting AAMU's lead to only one.
 
ASU will be back home next Saturday, Feb. 18 when they host Alcorn State at 5 p.m.