MONTGOMERY, Ala. | Jacoby Ross paced three players in double figures for Alabama State, but it wasn't enough as Arkansas-Pine Bluff was able to pull away for a 94-68 victory over the Hornets at the Dunn-Oliver Acadome in Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) play Monday night.
 
Ross poured in 23 points off the bench for Alabama State (2-14, 2-2 SWAC), including shooting 50 (5-of-10) percent from the floor and connected on 10-of-12 free throws on the night. Rodney Simeon added 12 for the Hornets, while Branden Johnson converted his second double-double in three games (third of his career) with 12 points and 11 rebounds in the loss.
 
"We won two games, and we have been trying to tell the guys in this conference you have to prepare," Alabama State head coach Lewis Jackson said. "They came in after the Mississippi Valley State game not paying attention to details and it showed against a UAPB team that shot lights out from three.
 
"We just have to take a step back and get ready for Alabama A&M. Folks in this league are going to look at this tape and think they can come in here and do the same thing. This league is hard to win in on the road, and at home, we have our work cut out for us."
 
Martaveous McKnight led all scorers with 24 for UAPB (3-14, 3-0 SWAC), while Terrance Banyard added 20 off the bench for the Golden Lions.
 
UAPB raced out to an 8-0 lead, but Alabama State responded with a 17-3 run in the first half to take a 17-9 lead on a three-pointer from Simeon. However, from there, it was all Golden Lions as they finished the night shooting 57.9 (33-of-57) percent from the floor and 59.1 (13-of-22) percent from beyond the arc.
 
Alabama State finished at 37.3 (25-of-67) percent from the floor and 26.1 (6-of-23) percent from beyond the arc. They also shot 48 (12-of-25) percent from the free throw line, and won the rebounding battle 42-35.
 
The Hornets face rival Alabama A&M Saturday evening at 5 pm inside the Dunn-Oliver Acadome. The game can heard on the Hornet Sports Network, with the pregame show beginning 15 minutes prior to tip.
 
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.