Box Score ITTA BENA, Miss.—Turnovers, poor shooting and missed opportunities cost Alabama State University (8-14/5-5 SWAC) in their 70-58 loss at league-leading Mississippi Valley State University (11-11/10-0 SWAC).
 
MVSU led the entire game, but ASU always stayed within shouting distance of the Delta Devils.  ASU only trailed 48-45 with 10 minutes left in the game, but a missed free throw and a turnover turned into points for MVSU and they went on to outscore ASU 22-13 over the last 10 minutes.
 
Kevin Burwell was the main thorn on ASU's side all night long as he led MVSU with 23 points, including knocking down five of his nine three point attempts.  Terrance Joyner and Paul Crosby each added 15 points, with all of Crosby's points coming in the second half.
 
Ryan Watts led the way off the bench for ASU with 13 points.  Tramaine Butler added 12.
 
The Delta Devils finished the game shooting 44 percent from the field while ASU shot 40.  MVSU hit seven three's and was 23-31 from the free throw line, including 17 of 19 in the second half, while the Hornets hit five threes and were only 11 of 22 at the line.  MVSU was also able to turn 16 Hornet turnovers into 18 points.
 
“Our offense was bad and we are not executing,” head coach Lewis Jackson said.  “We turn the ball over and take bad shots.  We are right there in the game with 10 or 12 minutes left and we had a great opportunity and turned the ball over, and turn it over and then give up easy shots around the basket.”
 
“In order for us to be successful we have got to have some inside play. We can't be in and out with it, we have to be consistent and tonight it was not consistent.”
 
MVSU led 29-24 at halftime led by Burwell's 13 points.  The Delta Devils shot 42 percent in the half and held ASU to 32 percent.
 
The bench really helped the Hornets in the first half as the starters only scored 10 of their first half points. Stephawn Brown, Watts and Jonathan Jefferson led the way with five points each.
 
Middlebrooks only played three minutes after picking up two quick fouls and Crawford only played eight minutes in the opening stanza as he also was in foul trouble.  The Hornets could have been much closer, but only hit seven of their 13 free throws.
 
ASU will continue the road trip Monday evening when they face the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff at 7:30 p.m.