MONTGOMERY, Ala. | AJ Farrar and Reginald Gee each posted double-doubles and paced four players in double figures as Alabama State pulled away from Grambling State 74-53 in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) opener for both teams at the Dunn-Oliver Acadome.

Farrar scored 14 of his career-high 18 points in the first half for Alabama State (3-9, 1-0 SWAC) to help the Hornets build a 15-point first half advantage, and hold a 41-31 lead at the break. He finished with his second career double-double by grabbing 12 rebounds – another career high – while shooting 8-of-11 from the floor. Meanwhile, Gee finished with 17 points and 10 rebounds, his first double-double of the season and with 8:37 remaining in the contest scored his 900th career point in two-plus seasons.

Jacoby Ross added 13 and Ed Jones 10 in the win for Alabama State, who finished the night shooting 42.9 (27-of-63) percent from the floor and 44.0 (11-of-25) percent from beyond the arc. The Hornets hit a season-high in three-pointers in the win, including three consecutive trips in the first half three-pointers to pull away from the Tigers.

 Alabama State held Grambling State to just 32.1 (18-of-56) percent shooting from the floor and 29.4 (5-of-17) percent from beyond the arc, while shooting 63.2 (12-of-19) percent shooting from the free throw line. The Hornets outrebounded Grambling State 49-35, and forced 15 Tigers' turnovers.

The Hornets outscored Grambling State (6-8, 0-1 SWAC), the defending regular season champions, 29-21 off the bench, and held the Tigers to just two players in double figures – Dallas Polk-Hillard (14) and Ivy Smith (12).

NOTEWORTHY
Reginald Gee scored his 900th career point with 8:37 to play in the contest on a 15-foot jumper over two defenders, leaving him just 100 points shy of 1,000 in two-plus seasons at Alabama State.

AJ Farrar and Reginald Gee each recorded a double-double in the win, the second time this season that two players have recorded a double-double in the same game. It was the second of the season for Farrar and the first for Gee.

Farrar set career highs with 18 points and 12 rebounds, with 14 points and seven rebounds coming in the first half to help build a 10-point cushion at the break.

Alabama State set a season-high with 11 three-pointers in the win.

The Hornets held Grambling State to just five three-pointers made, a season low for an Alabama State opponent – seven was the previous mark by South Dakota State and Utah State (both road games).

Alabama State has won their last seven conference home openers dating back to 2013, the last loss came against Mississippi Valley State in 2012. The Hornets have defeated Grambling State three times during that stretch.

QUOTABLE
"We knew we had to come in and play tough on defense, and we knew it was going to be a physical game. We really came out and stuck to the plan and moved the basketball around on offense, it was good to see coming off the break and opening conference play." – Alabama State head coach Lewis Jackson said about the game

"We were able to get some shots up during the break, and we were hoping that would help coming back after the break. We were able to get some confidence early, and get a lot of guys going. I thought Gene (Davis) did a great job of finding guys on the break for open shots, and we were able to knock them down." – Jackson on shooting performance

"Coming into the game, we knew they were big inside and we wanted to offset their size with our speed and quickness. We wanted to try and get them to throw the ball inside some, and get a lot of 1-on-1 opportunities. We just wanted to keep a hand in their face all night." – Jackson said about the defensive game plan

"AJ gave us a spark off the bench in the first half, and he is really an undersized post player for us against everyone. We were able to get in there and throw his body around some and battled with the big guys down low. Because of the way he plays, we can live with the mistakes; we just need to get him not to foul so much. Gee hit the boards hard for us tonight, and that's what we have been waiting on all year." – Jackson on the double-doubles

"I have been trying to tell Gee that he doesn't know how good he really can be. He showed some leadership tonight with the way he was playing." – Jackson on Gee scoring 900 career points

NEXT UP
Alabama State takes on Jackson State at the Dunn-Oliver Acadome Monday night, with tip set for 7:30 pm. The game can be heard on the Hornet Sports Network beginning with pregame at 7:15 pm. Tickets are still available at $10 general admission and $15 reserved.

The theme of the night for the Hornets is "Show Your Hornet Pride Night."

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