ITTA BENA, Miss.—The Alabama State University men's basketball team will begin the second half of the Southwestern Athletic Conference season just like the first, on the road.  They are set to face Mississippi Valley State University (10-11/9-0 SWAC) who opens the second half of the season undefeated in conference action and has a solid two game lead over second-place Southern University.
 
The Hornets (8-13/5-4 SWAC) enter the game four games behind the league-leaders and are looking to build on their exciting come-from-behind win over Texas Southern.
 
Even after the big win over Texas Southern the head coach Lewis Jackson knows his team has an uphill battle to get back to where they want to be.
 
“I think the team understands Monday night was just one ball game,” Jackson said.  “Although it was a great win for us it was just one ball game and we are in a totally different venue on the road and are in the first game of the second half of the season.  They know the challenges we face and the things we have to do.”
 
The Hornets will have their work cut out for them as MVSU enters the game on a nine-game winning streak which started with their 67-60 win over ASU in Montgomery back on Jan. 7.
 
The Delta Devils enter the game with the league's top offense.  They are averaging 69.1 points per game and also lead the SWAC in three-point field goal percentage (.336), assists per game (13.7), turnover margin (+0.57) and three-point field goals made with 155 (7.4 per game).
 
MVSU has three players averaging in double digits led by Terrence Joyner's 13.4 points per game.  Paul Crosby is next at 13.0 and Cor-J Cox is next at 11.5 points per game.
 
The Hornets also have three players in double digits led by Tramaine Butler's 11.8 points per game.  Both Ivory White and Philip Crawford are averaging 10.2 points per game.
 
In the first game of the season between the two teams, the Hornets were playing their third game in five days and MVSU was able to take advantage of that as they turned a three-point halftime deficit into a seven point win.  MVSU was able to shoot 48 percent in the second half and hit three of their six three point attempts while holding the tiring Hornets to only 27.3 percent shooting.
 
With the Delta Devils playing with the confidence they are playing with and the offense they have, the coaching staff knows ASU will have to play some of their best defense of the season to hand the hot Delta Devils their first conference loss.
 
“One thing we definitely have to do better is our transition defense,” Jackson stated.  “We have to get back, call out guys and get to their shooters.  We also have to execute our offense.  I thought we took a lot of bad shots, especially around the basket and our team defense has to get better overall.  Instead of sliding to get in position we just stood and reached and allowed the offensive player to go on the path he was going on without making them pick up their dribble and passing the ball.  We will have to have a good overall solid game on both sides of the court.”