ITTA BENA, Miss. | Tobi Ewuosho hit a pull-up jumper with eight-tenths of a second remaining in overtime to cap off a miraculous rally for Alabama State, capturing an 81-79 victory over Mississippi Valley State at the Harrison HPER Complex Monday night.

After trailing by as many as eight with 1:27 to play, Alabama State (5-10, 3-1 SWAC) mounted a furious comeback beginning with free throw from Reginald Gee with 1:26 to play. On the ensuing Mississippi Valley State possession, the Hornets forced a turnover before missing three shots. Ewuosho was able to get an offensive rebound and put it back, adding a free throw to trim the deficit to 71-67 with just 44 seconds to play.

They trimmed the lead to 71-69 with just 33 seconds to play, before a steal by Leon Daniels forced a foul from Mississippi Valley State (3-14, 1-2 SWAC). He hit the two free throws to tie the game at 71-all with 23 seconds remaining to force overtime.

The Delta Devils jumped out on top 79-76 in overtime, until Jacoby Ross drained a three-pointer with 59 seconds remaining to tie the game at 79-all setting the stage for the last-second heroics. Alabama State was able to set things up under the goal and got the ball to Ewuosho in the corner who drove to the lane, got past one defender and lofted the game-winner in the air for the Hornets.

Ross and Gee led Alabama State with 16 points each, with Gee grabbing seven rebounds in the win for the Hornets who shot 36.5 (27-of-74) percent from the floor and 34.6 (9-of-26) percent from beyond the arc. AJ Farrar added 15 points in the win for the Hornets, who won the rebounding battled and forced 12 Mississippi Valley State turnovers.

Michael Green and Gregory Jones-Rollins led Mississippi Valley State with 18.

NOTEWORTHY

Alabama State had three players finish in double figures for the second consecutive game, picking up a win on the road.

For the second consecutive season, Alabama State and Mississippi Valley State went into overtime at the Harrison HPER Complex.

The Hornets split on the road in their first road conference games of the season, keeping pace with Prairie View A&M and UAPB – the only two undefeated teams remaining in the conference.

The game was the first overtime game of the season for Alabama State, and the buzzer beater was the first in the career of Ewuosho.

QUOTABLE

"We played really good in the first and did what we wanted to do. Once we got up and went into halftime, I told the guys what we had to do that Mississippi Valley was going to come out and play hard. We just got away from what was working and did the complete opposite of what we talked about. But our guys fought hard, and we are fortunate to come out of here with a win." - Alabama State head coach Lewis Jackson on the overall win

"We got down late in the game, but our guys never quit fighting. We are still leaving too many points on the free throw line, but I'm proud of the way Leon (Daniels) stepped up to the line and knocked the two down to get us to overtime." – Jackson on free throw shooting

"Tobi is a guy who works hard, he is a warrior. We would like to Reggie or Jacoby in that situation, but they did a good job of sealing those guys off. Tobi got the ball and didn't hesitate, and he got the ball in the same corner he missed a three earlier. But he is a guy who goes on to the next play, and that is what makes him so good." – Jackson on the Ewuosho game-winner

"It's good to come off the road with a split. There are some places you go to on the road in this conference and can win a pair, and then there are those where you have to fight to get the split. You always want to win your games at home, and then try and get and at least get a split to give yourself a chance to host at the end of the year. We still have a lot of basketball left, and we just have to get our older guys to play better in the offense and quit forcing shots to give us a chance." – Jackson about winning on the road.

UP NEXT

Alabama State returns to action Saturday on the road in Birmingham, facing Alabama A&M at Bill Harris Arena in a Bulldogs' home game.

Tickets are still available at $15 general admission, $20 for premium (reserved).

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