MONTGOMERY, Ala. | Alabama State returns home for the first time in two weeks, hosting a pair of games at the Dunn-Oliver Acadome beginning with Prairie View A&M in Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) action Saturday evening.
 
The Hornets will also face Texas Southern Monday night.
 
Alabama State (3-17, 3-4 SWAC) looks to get back on track after dropping consecutive games on the road over the weekend. The Hornets battled back from a double-digit deficit to Southern in the final minute, hitting three three-pointers before a desperation shot fell short as the Hornets fell 63-61. They also fell to Alcorn State in the road finale Monday night, in a week in which Reginald Gee averaged 20 points per game for the Hornets.
 
Gee leads the team in scoring this season at 13.8 points per game, a number that has him in the top 10 of the conference in that category. He has scored in double figures in 15 of the 19 games this season, and currently sits at 529 career points as a sophomore.
 
Jacoby Ross, who did not play against Alcorn State, is averaging 12 points a game off the bench and has four games of 20-plus points for Alabama State. Branden Johnson, in his first year of full-time duty, is averaging 7.5 points and 6.9 rebounds this season. He is also shooting 63.4 percent from the floor, and is near a double-double in conference play at 9.3 points and 10.8 rebounds per game.
 
Rodney Simeon, who poured in 17 points in the loss at Alcorn State, is averaging 9.5 points per game this season after being selected as a Preseason Second Team pick in the SWAC.
 
Meanwhile, Prairie View A&M (6-15, 3-4 SWAC) enters the contest right behind the Hornets in the conference standings. Gray Blackston averages 18.4 points per game for the Panthers – second in the conference – and Zachary Hamilton averages 17.0 points per game – third in the conference, while J.D. Wallace is third in the conference in rebounding at 8.1 per game.
 
The Hornets' opponent on Monday, Texas Southern (4-16, 4-3 SWAC) is currently tied for third in the conference and is the defending conference champion. They are led by Donte Clark at 16.9 points per game through 20 games this season. Trayvon Reed leads the conference in rebounding (9.8 per game), and blocked shots (3.0 per game).
 
The game on Saturday can be seen on the SWAC Digital Network beginning ay tip, and heard on the Hornet Sports Network beginning with the pregame show at 4:45 pm. The game against Texas Southern can be seen on the Hornet Sports Network beginning at 7:15 pm Monday.
 
Follow the Hornets
For complete coverage of Alabama State University men's basketball, please follow the Hornets on social media @BamaStateMBB (Twitter), /BamaStateSports (Facebook) and @BamaStateSports (Instagram) or visit the official home of Alabama State athletics at BamaStateSports.com.