MONTGOMERY, Ala.—Alabama State rode
Phillip Crawford's 26 points and 16 rebounds to a 69-62 win over rival Alabama A&M in an important Southwestern Athletic Conference game between two teams that are fighting for position for the upcoming conference tournament.
Crawford, the reigning SWAC Player of the Week, hit 12 of his 16 field goal attempts and posted over 20 points and 10 rebounds for the third consecutive game.
“Phil has really been playing well for us and we have been riding his coat tail these last few ball games,” Head Coach
Lewis Jackson said. “He has been coming up big for us and that is what we expect him to do. We expect him to get around the goal and make baskets, try to get stops and get rebounds and that is what he has been doing for us and coming up big.”
ASU (8-17/6-6 SWAC) led the entire game and had their largest lead at 49-34 after a
Jamel Waters field goal with 10:40 left. AAMU (8-15/4-8 SWAC) then went on a 26-15 run over the next eight minutes and cut the lead down to 64-60 on a Green Hill basket with 3:05 to go, and cut it to four again at 66-62 with 1:21 left after Jose Long hit a shot.
The Hornets would close the game out with a free throw from Denzell McDaniel and two free throws from Waters to end the scoring.
“We knew they would make a run and they made some really tough shots down the stretch,” Jackson said. “We were able to get a good drive to the basket and made a couple of free throws to keep it to a two or three possession game and that is what helped us win the game.”
ASU finished the game shooting 56 percent (26-46) from the field and out rebounding AAMU 40-26.
Joshua Freelove finished with 15 points and Waters added 10 along with a game-high eight assists.
“Waters did a great job of getting us into what we wanted to do and trying to make sure we got touches to the people we wanted to,” Jackson said. “And that is what it is all about, trying to get guys to stick to the game plan. It continues to be a work in progress, but it is a great win.”
Brandon Ellis led the Bulldogs with 15 points followed by Long's 12 and Jeremy Crutcher's 11. The Bulldogs leading scorer Demarquelle Tabb entered the game averaging 14 points per game and the Hornets held him to eight points on one of six shooting. He was able to hit six of nine at the free throw line.
ASU struggled from the free throw line the entire game and finished only hitting 15 of their 32 attempts (47 percent). They also only hit two of nine from beyond the three point line.
AAMU was able to get back into the game in the second half by hitting four three point attempts and 10 of their 15 free throws. During their 26-15 point run, AAMU had four plays where they hit a basket and free throw or hit a three point field goal.
The Hornets went into the locker room with a 33-22 lead, led by Crawford's 15 points. Crawford hit seven of his 10 field goals and also led the team with eight rebounds.
The Hornets shot 57 percent from the field, but the lead would have been higher had they been able to connect on their free throws. They only hit six of 15 (40 percent) at the free throw line.
AAMU only shot 36 percent from the field in the opening half, but was able to knock down three field goals beyond the three point line. Crutcher led the way with seven points.
“It was a great team effort here tonight to get a win at home and a win over A&M,” Jackson said.
ASU will be back on the road next week when they travel to Baton Rouge to face league-leading Southern University Saturday, Feb. 16 at 5 p.m.
