MONTOGMERY—Alabama State University will host Jackson State University Saturday, March 3 at 5 p.m. in the Dunn-Oliver Acadome in the final game of the 2011-12 regular season.  The game will also serve as Senior Day for the four seniors of this year's class.
 
ASU (11-18/8-9 SWAC) enters the game in sixth place in the conference and is fifth in the conference tournament seeding due to Southern University not participating in the tournament this season.  With a win and a Prairie View A&M loss, the Hornets could move into a tie for fourth with not only Prairie View but Arkansas-Pine Bluff as well.
 
ASU defeated Grambling 63-61 in their last game on Thursday evening, but the game could have an even larger impact on the Hornets as starting point guard Jeff Middlebrooks went down with an injury with 13 minutes left and never returned.  Middlebrooks was having the best year of his career, leading the Hornets in assists with 128 and was second in the conference in assists per game (4.4) and assist/turnover ratio (1.9).  He is also the team's best free throw shooter (.738) which is also the eighth best in the SWAC.
 
If he is unable to go, the Hornets will turn to Josh Mason, who was also injured during the GSU game, and Anthony Price, both juniors who have not had a lot of playing time this season.  Ryan Watts could also see time at the point position as could Tramaine Butler, although he is nursing several injuries himself.
 
Butler continues to lead the Hornets in scoring at 11.8 points per game while Philip Crawford is scoring at a 10.9 clip and grabbing 5.8 rebounds per game.  Ivory White is averaging 9.9 points and a team-high 6.1 rebounds per game.
 
White is having a standout type of senior season where he is listed among the conference leaders in scoring (16^th), rebounding (8^th), field goal percentage (9^th), steals (5^th), three-point percentage (4^th), three-point field goals made (6^th), blocked shots (11^th), offensive rebounds (14^th), defensive rebounds (6^th) and minutes played (6^th).
 
Jackson State University (7-22/5-12 SWAC) enters the game tied for eighth in the conference with an opportunity to move into seventh with a win and some help with other team's losing their final game.
 
The Hornets defense will have their hands full as they will face two of the top players in the conference.  Kelsey Howard is second in the conference in scoring (14.8), 19^th in rebounding (4.2), fourth in free throw percentage (.765), third in steals (1.5) and eighth in three point field goals made (1.6).
 
His teammate Christian Williams is just as dangerous averaging 11.1 points per game which is 10^th in the conference.  Williams is also second in the SWAC in free throw shooting (.836) and 11^th in three-point field goal percentage (.312).
 
These two teams hooked up in an epic battle back on Jan. 5^th in Jackson with the Hornets pulling out a thrilling 81-78 triple-overtime win.  Williams had a game-high 31 points off the bench for JSU and Jenirro Bush, who has since been lost for the season to an injury, had 20.  Howard had 12 points and completed a double-double with 11 rebounds.
 
The Hornets had four players reach double-digits led by Middlebrook's 17 points.  Butler added 16 and White had 15.  Kenderek Washington added 13.
 
Before the game, ASU will recognize the four members of this year's senior class, which are Middlebrooks, Butler, White and Washington.  These four players have been a part of two SWAC Tournament titles, a regular season championship and two NCAA appearances.