GREENWOOD, Miss. – Torloft Thomas scored a career-high 22 points as Alabama State men's basketball erased a 14-point halftime deficit to defeat Mississippi Valley State 73-62 at the Leflore County Civic Center.
 
Thomas scored 17 points in the second half as the Hornets outscored Valley 46-21 over the final 20 minutes. Alabama State shot nearly 52 percent from the field (14-27) after halftime, including 7-13 from three-point range and 11-14 from the free throw line.
 
Thomas was one of four Hornets in double figures. Tony Armstrong added 13, Jamel Waters 12, and Bobby Brown 10 for Alabama State (8-14 overall, 3-7 SWAC), which has now won two in a row.
 
Thomas hit back-to-back three-pointers as part of 13-2 run to open the second half to cut the ASU deficit to 43-40 with 16:00 remaining in the game.
 
After the Delta Devils pushed the lead back to 10 at 52-42 with 12:26 remaining, the Hornets made their decisive rally. Thomas scored six straight points, including a three pointer and three free throws after being fouled on a three-point attempt, to spark a 21-5 run over a nearly five-minute stretch. A three-pointer by Waters gave the Hornets the lead for good, 55-54, with 7:29 to play in the game.
 
Thomas, who went 5-5 from for the field in the second half, including making all four three pointers and all three free throw attempts, made a three-pointer from the right wing to end the run and give Alabama State a 63-56 lead with 4:26 to play.
 
Mississippi Valley State (4-20, 4-6) cut the Hornets' lead to 64-62 with 2:37 to play, but Alabama State scored the last nine points for the final margin.
 
The Hornets return to action Monday at Arkansas-Pine Bluff at 7:30 p.m., with a live radio broadcast online on bamastatesports.com and on the radio in Montgomery on Yo! 100.5 FM.