"We played it till the end and had a chance to tie it up and go into overtime and we just didn't get it done," Head Coach Brian Jenkins said.  "That is what it just boils down to."
 
The Hornets defense played hard the entire game and held one of the SWAC's top offenses to 347 total yards, but the Hornets offense struggled at times finishing the game with only 287 total yards.
 
Alcorn scored a touchdown with just under three minutes in the third-quarter to take a 14-10 lead.  The Braves then turned around and seemed to put the game out of reach with another score with just under 13 minutes left in the game to take a 21-10 lead.
 
After both teams punted twice the Hornets took over on their own 47 yard line after Alcorn State muffed a punt.  After a 32 yard run from Derrel King, the Hornets had a first-and-goal on the four yard line.  From there Quinterris Toppings found Nygel Lee from five yards out and after Toppings hit King for the two-point conversion, the game was 21-18.
 
ASU got one more chance when Kourtney Berry forced his second fumble of the game and ASU recovered by Bradley Street on the ASU 44.
 
From there Toppings led the Hornets down to the 18 yard line where Alcorn was able to save the game by blocking Albert's 35-yard field goal attempt.
 
"I was glad to see us fight to come back, that is what we are supposed to do," Jenkins said.  "Playing hard is a requirement it's not a specialty, so we just didn't get it done."
 
What a defensive performance from Kourtney Berry, who missed the first game.  Playing in certain situations, the senior All-American had 10 stops including a sack and two forced fumbles.
 
Derrel King led the Hornets rushing game with 73 yards on 14 carries.  Toppings chipped in with 60 yards as ASU finished the game rushing for 214 yards.
 
Senior starter Khalid Thomas was injured in the second quarter and didn't play in the second half.  He finished the game with 22 yards and also had a touchdown reception.
 
Toppings, making his first start since early last season, completed nine of 21 passes for 69 yards and two scores to go along with his 60 yards rushing.
 
Albert's 27 yard field goal on the final play of a long first half sent the Hornets into the locker room with a 10-7 lead.  The two teams almost mirrored each other in the opening 30 minutes as ASU turned the ball over on a first-and-goal on Alcorn's two and the host recovered the botched snap and was able to drive the ball down the field to take a 7-0 score.
 
ASU returned the favor when Kourtney Berry forced a fumble as Alcorn was inside the ASU 25 and the Hornets drove it down the field to score when Toppings hit Khalid Thomas from nine yards out.
 
ASU had 180 total yards and the Braves had 154 and both teams had a turnover which led to a score.  Both teams were hurt by penalties as ASU had 82 yards in penalties and Alcorn had 71.
 
ASU will be back in action next week when they once again hit the road to face a strong Southern team in Baton Rouge at 6 p.m.