PINE BLUFF, Ark. | On a night where both teams shot over 50 percent from the floor, Alabama State was unable to overcome a second half run from UAPB and fell 91-82 in Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) play Saturday night at H.O. Clemmons Arena.

The Hornets ended the night shooting 52.9 (27-for-51) percent from the floor and 53.3 (8-for-15) percent from beyond the arc on the night. They also shot 87.0 (20-for-23) percent from the free throw line in the loss. Meanwhile, UAPB finished the night shooting 59.3 (32-for-54) percent from the floor and 46.7 (7-for-15) percent from beyond the arc.

Kenny Strawbridge finished with his first career double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds, while LaTrell Tate came off the bench to add 17 points. Brandon Battle chipped in 11 for Alabama State (0-3, 0-3 SWAC).

Shaun Doss finished with 31 points to lead all scorers, while Joshuwan Johnson added 25 for UAPB (3-9, 2-0 SWAC).

After two teams were tied at 6-all through the first four minutes of the game, UAPB went on a 10-0 run take a 16-6 lead. That lead grew to as many as 15 until Alabama State started to trim the lead down the final 10 minutes of the opening half.

The Hornets used 7-0 run themselves to trim the lead to 27-20 with a DJ Heath jumper with 7:28 remaining in the half. Kenny Strawbridge knocked down a three-pointer with 4:52 to play in the half to trim the lead to four at 29-25, before they pulled to within three at 33-30 on another Strawbridge basket with 1:51 to play.

Alabama State pulled to within one at 33-32 with 1:19 to play on a Tate jumper, and the two teams traded baskets near the end of the first half with a pair of Kevion Stewart free throws ending the scoring at 35-34 with just 1.7 seconds remaining in the half.

The second half was much the same as Alabama State pulled to within two at 55-53 with 12:52 to play until UAPB outscored the Hornets 18-7 over the next four minutes to take 73-60 lead. However, back-to-back three-pointers from Jordan Cousin trimmed the lead to 73-66 and forced a timeout by UAPB.

That was as close as the Hornets could get as UAPB had an answer for every run by Alabama State late in the second half. The Hornets were down by seven with just over one-minute remaining in the game but were able to get back to within four but clutch free throw shooting from UAPB sealed the win for the Golden Lions.

Alabama State returns to action Monday night on the road in Itta Bena (Miss.) against Mississippi Valley State, with tip set for 7:30 pm. The game will be carried by the Hornet Sports Network.

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