HUNTSVILLE, Ala. - Three players scored in double figures for the Alabama State University men's basketball team as the Hornets held off rival Alabama A&M University, 57-55 in Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) action on the road Saturday night.
 
Tony Armstrong came off the bench to lead Alabama State (4-13, 2-3 SWAC) with 16 points and five rebounds, helping the Hornets end a three-game losing streak. Armstrong finished the night shooting 54.5 percent (6-of-11) from the floor in the win. He was joined in double figures by Rodney Simeon and Reginald Gee with 13 each.
 
The Hornets finished the night shooting 40.4 percent (19-of-47) from the floor, including 35.0 percent (7-of-20) from beyond the arc. The team also finished the night shooting 70.6 percent (12-of-17) from the free-throw line, led by Gee who finished the night 7-of-8 from the line.
 
After Alabama A&M jumped out to an 11-8 lead early in the first half, Alabama State went on a 10-3 run to take the lead. The run started with an Armstrong jumper with 11:54 remaining in the half, and continued over the next six minutes in which Alabama A&M was held to just one field goal until a putback dunk with 5:06 to play in the half.
 
After the two teams were tied at 22-all, Alabama State went on an 8-2 run to close out the first half. Armstrong and Simeon combined for all eight points that the Hornets scored during the run, taking a 30-24 lead at the half.
 
The theme of the night continued into the second half as the two teams traded the lead on a pair of occasions, until Alabama State took the lead for good on an Armstrong lay-up with 16:27 to play to give the Hornets a 34-33 lead. The lay-up ignited an 8-2 run for the Hornets as they pushed their lead to 40-35 with 13:18 to play on a Simeon lay-up. The lead continued to grow to 10 (49-39) with 9:07 to play when Terrance LeFlore connected on a lay-up.
 
That's when Alabama A&M made their push, and Alabama State was able to hold on for the victory. The Bulldogs went on a 7-2 run to close the game, but the Hornets were able to seal the victory with a pair of free throws from Gee. The Hornets held Alabama A&M without a field goal over the final 2:16, including a shot in the final seconds that would have tied the game and sent it to overtime.
 
The road victory for Alabama State ended a five-game road losing streak this season.
 
De'Ederick Petty led Alabama A&M with 19 points, while Quinterian McConico finished 18 point and nine rebounds for the Bulldogs who shot 38.6 percent (22-of-57)  from the floor. They also finished the night shooting just 18.2 percent (2-of-11) from beyond the arc and 64.3 percent (9-of-14) from the free-throw line.
 
Alabama State returns to action a week from tonight, facing Alcorn State at the Dunn-Oliver Acadome. The game tips at 5 pm next Saturday.