MONTOGMERY—Alabama State University will begin their stretch of the final six games of the regular season by hosting Alcorn State University Saturday at 5 p.m.
 
The Hornets enter the contest 9-15 overall and in fifth place in the conference with a 6-6 record.  Alcorn State enters the game 7-17 overall and 5-7 in conference action.
 
Mississippi Valley State has put some distance between them and the rest of the conference, but the Hornets find themselves only two games out of second place, but also find themselves only three games from ninth place, so they will be fighting for position in the Southwestern Athletic Conference Tournament that begins Mar. 7.
 
“We look at the conference standings right now and Valley is running out in front of everyone and everyone else is kind of beating up on each other,” head coach Lewis Jackson said.  “But as we look at it with six games to go we are only two games out of second place so we are excited about what can happen if we continue to play with the energy, effort and desire we need to play with to win games.  On the other hand if we don't do those things we can drop down the ladder considerably.”
 
“We are going to focus on the fact that we can go out and achieve the things we want to achieve in these last six ball games and that is to play well and play strong and develop some momentum as we head into the tournament.”
 
ASU has lost six conference games by an average of only six points, so the Hornets have continued to work hard and give great effort at practice in trying to turn around a stretch where they have dropped five of their last seven games.
 
“Anytime you throw it up the guys have been going after each other and they want you to know they can still get the job done,” Jackson stated.  “They are really working hard and when we scrimmage they compete hard against each other and that is a good sign.  They are still hungry and they know the ultimate goal is still out there and that is making the NCAA Tournament.”
 
ASU will enter the game against Alcorn with three players averaging in double figures, led by Tramaine Butler's 11.1 points per game.  Butler is also trying to become the 27^th player in ASU history to reach the 1,000 career point's milestone.  He has 983 points needing only 17.
 
Philip Crawford averages 10.4 points and 5.6 rebounds per game and Ivory White is averaging 10 points and a team-high 5.8 rebounds per game.
 
Alcorn State also has three players averaging in double digits.  Anthony Nieves leads the team at 10.6 points per game and Kendrick McDonald averages 10.2 and Twann Oakley averages 10.1.
 
The two teams met earlier in the season on Jan. 21 with the Braves scratching out a 61-60 victory.  The Hornets had three chances to score in the final seconds but each of their shots missed the mark.
 
ASU will conclude the current two-game home stand when they host Southern University Monday, Feb. 20 at 7:30 p.m.