MONTGOMERY, Ala. | Alabama State returns home for the first time since mid-November, opening conference play against Grambling State inside the Dunn-Oliver Acadome Saturday evening. The game is set to tip at 5:30 pm, and can be heard on the Hornet Sports Network 15 minutes prior to tip.

THEME NIGHT

• Alabama State will host the first of nine theme nights surrounding Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) play, beginning with Faith and Family Night against Grambling State
• The Department of Intercollegiate Athletics invites all churches, schools and community groups to the contest Saturday night
• For information on group pricing for the game, contact the Alabama State University Ticket Office at 334.229.4551

A LOOK INSIDE THE ALABAMA STATE HORNETS

• Alabama State (2-9) returns home for the first time since mid-November, when they rattled off back-to-back wins over LaGrange and Birmingham-Southern
• The Hornets have won their six home openers in conference play dating back to 2012 when they fell to Mississippi Valley State; included in that are a pair of wins over Grambling State
• Reginald Gee and Jacoby Ross combined for 49 total points in the Hornets' last game, a 70-69 loss to Campbell on December 22
• The pair are actually tied atop the team in scoring average through the first 11 games this season, both averaging 14.7 points per game
• Ross has missed just two free throws this season, but is one free throw shy through 11 games from qualifying for the national statistics at 2.5 free throws made per game – he is currently shooting 92.3 (24-of-26) percent from the free throw line
• Gee, a SWAC Player of the Week earlier this season, is closing in on 1,000 career points, as he has scored 884 points for his career
• Ross went over the 500-point mark against Campbell is just one-plus seasons for the reigning SWAC Freshman of the Year
• Alabama State was picked to finish fifth in the preseason rankings

A LOOK INSIDE THE GRAMBLING STATE TIGERS

• Grambling State (6-7) was picked to win the conference in the preseason rankings, fresh off their regular season title from a year ago
• The Tigers lead the SWAC in 14 statistical categories including blocked shots per game, defensive rebounds per game, field goal percentage, defensive field goal percentage, free throw attempts, free throws made, rebound margin, scoring margin, three-point field goal percentage, team blocks, team rebounds, total rebounds per game and won-lost percentage
• Ivy Smith leads the SWAC in assists per game
• Dallas Polk-Hilliard ranks atop the conference in double-doubles, including one against 16th-ranked Wisconsin when he scored 17 points and grabbed 10 rebounds

INSIDE THE SERIES

• Alabama State leads the all-time series with Grambling State 52-26, including splitting the season series last year
• Each team won on the other's home floor last season, with Alabama State claiming a 74-66 victory in Grambling
• The Tigers returned the favor with a 66-64 victory over Alabama State in the regular season finale

WHAT'S NEXT

• Alabama State returns to the floor Monday against Jackson State at home
• Tip is set for 7:30 pm
• The game against Jackson State will be the final home until January 26 when the Hornets return home for a modest two-game home stand against Alcorn State and Southern

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