Alabama State University Athletics

MONTGOMERY, Ala. | Alabama State led early but a pair of runs by Tennessee State proved too much for the Hornets, as they fell to the visitors 64-45 at the Dunn-Oliver Acadome in non-conference action Tuesday night.
 
Reginald Gee led Alabama State (0-9) with nine points, while Rodney Simeon finished with eight in his first game back this season. Simeon also added seven rebounds, while Branden Johnson finished with seven points and four rebounds.
 
Christian Mekowlulu finished with a double-double for Tennessee State with 14 points and 10 rebounds, while Kamar McKnight finished with 14 and Ken'Darrius Hamilton 10.
 
Alabama State took an early lead in the first half, leading 19-16 with 9:30 to play on a Rodney Simeon three-pointer. However, a pair of 8-0 runs by Tennessee State extended the Tigers lead with the first coming in the first half that gave the visitors the lead for good with 8:34 to play in the opening stanza.
 
The Hornets trimmed the lead to four with 11 seconds remaining in the first half on a Steve Rogers three-pointer, trimming the deficit to 33-29. They trimmed the lead to 33-31 seconds into the second half on a Branden Johnson 6-foot jump shot, but it was the second 8-0 run by Tennessee State over the next four minutes that extended the lead to double digits at 41-31 with 14:01 to play in the game.
 
Alabama State was able to get to within seven on a pair of occasions late in the second half, but Tennessee State (5-3) had an answer for every run that the Hornets would attempt.
 
The Hornets shot 21.3 (10-of-47) percent from the floor and 33.3 (7-of-21) percent from beyond the arc. They also shot 66.7 (18-of-27) percent from the free throw line, while Tennessee State finished at 36.8 (14-of-38) percent from the floor and 26.3 (5-of-19) percent from beyond the arc. They also finished at 79.5 (31-of-39) percent from the free throw line.
 
Alabama State returns to action at the Dunn-Oliver Acadome Saturday afternoon, hosting Winthrop at 1 pm.
 
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