PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas | Alabama State fell short in a game of runs Monday, dropping a 69-67 decision to Prairie View A&M at the William J. Hicks Building in Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) action.

Alabama State (8-12, 6-3 SWAC) took their first lead of the game early in the second half and used a 10-0 run midway through the second half to take a 50-49 lead with just under eight minutes to play. Prairie View A&M (11-11, 9-0 SWAC), the winners of 10 straight games, used a run of their own to take a 59-55 game with 3:22 to play before the teams traded baskets.

Prairie View A&M was able to put the game way with a pair of free throws from Taishun Johnson, before a tip-in at the end by Tobi Ewuosho provided the final margin.

Jacoby Ross led Alabama State with 19 points and four rebounds, while Reginald Gee finished with 10 points and nine rebounds in the loss. Leon Daniels added 10 points and seven rebounds – his second consecutive game in double figures for the Hornets who finished the night shooting 36.1 (22-of-61) percent from the floor. They also finished the night shooting just 17.4 (4-of-23) percent from beyond the arc and 73.1 (19-of-26) percent from the free throw line.

Meanwhile, Gerard Andrus finished with a double-double 14 points and 11 rebounds, while Antione Lister added 13 points and Darius Williams 12. The Panthers ended the night shooting 42.1 (24-of-57) percent from the floor and 29.2 (7-of-24) percent from beyond the arc, while shooting 66.7 (14-of-21) percent from the free throw line.

Noteworthy
Jacoby Ross had his best shooting performance of the season from the free throw line as he went 7-for-7 from the stripe, including a big three on a three-point play to pull Alabama State to within one down the stretch.

Alabama State had three players in double figures for the seventh time this season.

The Hornets started the lineup of Kevin Holston, Ross, Gee, Branden Johnson and AJ Farrar for the first time this season – the eighth different starting lineup used by Alabama State on the season.

Alabama State dropped a game decided by six points or less for second time (3-2) this season, but the first time in conference play (3-1).

The Hornets have dropped back-to-back conference games for the first time this season, and are currently tied for second in the conference with Texas Southern and Jackson State. The Hornets dropped back-to-back games for the first time since December 21-22.

Quotable
"This was a tough ball game, and we knew it would be coming in here tonight. It's always going to be tough on the road, but then you throw the number one and two teams going head-to-head it makes it tougher. We competed hard, and our chances, we just lost our composure there for a little bit in the second half and that allowed them to make a run." – Alabama State head coach Lewis Jackson on the game

"We made a mistake in the zone and that's why we extended it late in the game. We should have been hedging and we weren't, and that allowed them to get open in the corner for the three. We just have to understand on the road, we can't make mental mistakes that lets the other team get back into the game." – Jackson on the zone defense when Prairie View A&M made a second half run

"We crashed the boards hard tonight on both ends of the floor. We didn't do that against Texas Southern on Saturday, and we knew had to do that tonight in order to give us a chance to win. We gave ourselves a chance in the game, but we just made mental mistakes. We were up one and came down and took a quick shot, and then gave up an offensive rebound on the other end." – Jackson said on the team's play on the boards

"We just have to get ready to play this week. We are going home to get three at our place and need to get those three to keep pace with everyone in the race. We know they are going to be tough games, but we just have to get ready to play." – Jackson said about returning home this week

What's Next
Alabama State returns to the Dunn-Oliver Acadome for a three-game home stand beginning Saturday against UAPB.

The game tips at 5 pm and is part of Alumni Night. Tickets are $10 general admission and $15 for reserved, and can be purchased in advance or at the door.

Follow the Hornets
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