Box Score (Note:  This is one of a series of strories looking back on the best games/performances/contests of the 2011-12 Alabama State Athletic Season.)

Jeffrey Middlebrooks scored 17 points to lead Alabama State University (5-9/2-0 SWAC) to an 81-78 triple overtime win over Jackson State University (3-11/1-1 SWAC) in Southwestern Athletic Conference action.

Middlebrooks was joined in double digits as Tramaine Butler added 16, Ivory White had 15 and Kenderek Washington added 13.

Jackson State's Christian Williams led all scorers with 31 points and Jenirro Bush added 20 before fouling out in the second overtime period.

ASU held a 10-point halftime lead, but only shot 21 percent in the second half as JSU came all the way back and took their first lead since the opening minutes when Williams knocked down a jumper with 1:50 left in regulation to give JSU a 55-53 lead. Washington was able to knock down two pressure free throws with 13 seconds left to get the game into overtime.

Both teams scored eight points in the first overtime as White scored seven of the team's eight points. His final basket with seven seconds left sent the game into the second overtime tied at 63.

Neither team could muster much offense in the second overtime as they both scored five points to end the period even at 68.

JSU opened the third extra period with another three-point basket from Williams to put JSU up 71-68. Following JSU's basket, the Tigers did not score for the next three minutes while the Hornets added a Washington free throw, back to back threes from White and Middlebrooks and another field goal from White to open up a 77-71 lead.

JSU fought back with a Willie Readus basket with 1:23 left in the game and just 20 seconds later Williams knocked down another three following an ASU turnover to cut the lead to 77-76. With 31 seconds left, Butler was able to maneuver into the lane, hit a jumper and put ASU up 79-76. That lasted Kelsey Howard added a put back basket with 13 seconds left to cut the lead to 79-78. Middlebrooks was then fouled and knocked down the two free throws for the final score as a desperation three at the horn missed the mark.

ASU finished the game shooting 41 percent from the field and JSU shot 44 percent. ASU did knock down 11 three-point field goals and JSU hit seven. The Hornets also hit 20 of their 31 field goals while JSU out rebounded ASU 50-32.

The big difference in the game was the turnovers. ASU committed 18 turnovers and forced 28 from the Tigers. The JSU turnovers led to 35 points for ASU while JSU only scored 15 off the ASU turnovers.

“Our guys played hard and Jackson State played hard as well,” head coach Lewis Jackson said. “We had several opportunities to put the game away in regulation with a six or seven point lead and we did not do the things good teams do to close games out. We were doing things in the last 10 minutes of regulation where we were not running our offense properly.”

“It was a hard fought game and we came on the road and we can't ask any more from the guys because they stayed in the game and they battled and battled.”

The Hornets were able to build their 10-point halftime lead (36-26) on the strength of five three-pointers compared to only one for JSU.

The balanced scoring actually started in the first half as seven of the nine Hornet players that saw action got into the scoring column, led by Philip Crawford's nine points and Middlebrooks and Butler's eight each.

ASU held JSU to 42 percent shooting in the first half, but the home-standing Tigers were able to our rebound ASU 21-12, and that included eight offensive rebounds that led to several second chance points.

The Hornets will be back in Montgomery to begin a three-game conference home stand when they host Mississippi Valley State on Saturday, Jan. 7 at 5 p.m.