Box Score PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas—In a story that has been played out way too many times this season, the Hornets fall behind early and make a huge run to get close only to come up short in the end.  That was the case again tonight as Alabama State University (10-18/7-9 SWAC) fell 62-59 to Prairie View A&M University (12-17/9-7 SWAC).
 
ASU once again dug themselves a hole when they fell behind by as many as 18 points (46-28) with 15:05 left in the game.  From there ASU begin a methodical comeback in which they had their chance to even the score at 59 with 1:29 left in the game when the score clock went out and delayed the game for almost 20 minutes.
 
Once the clock was running, the Hornets ran down the shot clock down with Ivory White popping open for an uncontested three pointer that rimmed out.  PV gathered the rebound and the Hornets had to foul and it was Jourdan Demuynck that hit two crucial free throws with 40 seconds left to give PV a 61-57 lead.  The Hornets went right back down the court with Crawford this time connecting on a shot in the paint to again cut the lead to 61-59.
 
Following a quick timeout by ASU, Jeff Middlebrooks was able to steal the inbounds pass and the Hornets called another timeout to set up the final shot.  The Hornets worked the ball around the perimeter and Ryan Watts took a three –pointer with 14 seconds left that missed the mark.
 
Again the Hornets had to foul and Louis Muncks knocked down a free throw to make it 62-59.  After Munks missed the second free throw the Hornets still had a chance to send the game into overtime but Tramaine Butler's three-pointer at the horn fell short.
 
“We just have to be disciplined and we have to make smart shot selections, play with toughness and right now we have a lack of inside play which is really hurting us,” head coach Lewis Jackson said.  “Through it all we still had opportunities to put us in position to do what we wanted to do to win the game.”
 
“We called a play coming out of a timeout down two and some guys just take it upon themselves to do just the opposite of what we call and we are not going to win basketball games playing like that down the stretch.  I thought we did a good job of getting back into the ball game.  It was unfortunate the clock kept going out on us breaking our momentum when we had things going our way.”
 
Ryan Gesiakowski and Tim Meadows led PV with 12 points each.  DeMuynck joined the duo in double digits with 11.  Jules Montgomery added eight points and had a game-high 10 rebounds.
 
Jeff Middlebrooks broke out of his scoring slump with a game-high 17 points and a game-high four steals.  Tramaine Butler added 13 points while Crawford and White added eight each.  White had a team-high seven rebounds.
 
PVAMU jumped out to a 36-22 halftime lead as they shot 54 percent from the field, and that includes knocking down five of their nine three-point attempts.
 
The Hornets were very generous in the opening stanza as the Panthers turned 13 ASU turnovers into 15 points, and ASU was again cold from the field only shooting 29 percent.
 
ASU will end the regular season with two home games, beginning with Thursday, March 1 when they host Grambling State at 7:30 p.m.