HUNTSVILLE, Ala. | Despite a double-double from Brandon Battle, Alabama State could not overcome a pair of runs from Alabama A&M as they fell to the Bulldogs 70-63 at T.M. Elmore Gymnasium Saturday afternoon.

Battle finished with 14 points and 11 rebounds to notch his first career double-double, while Kenny Strawbridge finished with a team-high 16 points – narrowly missing his third consecutive double-double as he grabbed nine rebounds.

Alabama A&M opened the game on a 10-0 run over the first three minutes of the contest until an E.J. Clark basket ended that run with 15:42 to play in the opening half. He added a second consecutive basket to cut the lead in half at 10-5. The Hornets were able to claw their way back into the contest in the opening half with a chance to get to within two at the break; however, they were unable to convert from the free-throw line and trailed 28-24 at the intermission.

The Bulldogs went on another run in the second half, this one a 9-2 run over the first three minutes to push the lead to 37-26. The lead grew to the largest of the day at 40-28 with 14:50 to play before Alabama State went on a run over the next eight minutes. The Hornets trimmed the lead down to two possession late in the second half and pulled to within four at 60-56 with 3:47 to play but clutch free throw shooting down the stretch helped Alabama A&M hold on for the win.

Alabama State finished the contest shooting 31.7 (20-for-63) percent from the floor and just 13.6 (3-for-22) percent from beyond the arc. They also shot 58.8 (20-for-34) percent from the free throw line, while grabbing 49 rebounds.

Garrett Hicks paced four players from Alabama A&M (3-0, 1-0 SWAC) in double figures with 13, while EJ Williams added 12. Dailin Smith and Anjay Cortez each added 11 for the Bulldogs who finished the day shooting 37.5 (21-for-56) percent from the floor and 17.4 (4-for-23) percent from beyond the arc. They also finished the day shooting 72.7 (24-for-33) percent from the free throw line.

Alabama State returns to action next Saturday at home against Alcorn State. The game is scheduled to take place at 4:30 pm from the Dunn-Oliver Acadome, and the game will be carried on the Hornet Sports Network.

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