HOUSTON, Texas | After falling behind early Alabama State battled back to take a first half lead before Texas Southern was able to use free throws down the stretch to pull away from the Hornets, 73. 66 in Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) action on Monday night.

Kenny Strawbridge (Rockford, Ill.) led Alabama State with a double-double, finishing with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Trace Young (Owensboro, Ky.) scored 17 points and added five rebounds, while Christian McCray (Las Vegas, Nev.) added 15 and Isaiah Range (Cedar Hill, Texas) added 13 for the Hornets.

Texas Southern (7-10, 5-3 SWAC) jumped out to an 8-0 lead before the Hornets could get on the board following the first media timeout with a McCray jumper with 14:56 to play in the opening half. Alabama State (4-15, 3-4 SWAC) continued to battle before tying the game at 21-all with 4:57 to play in the half.

Texas Southern was able to push the lead back to three at 24-21 before Alabama State went on a 5-0 run to take their first lead of the game. A jumper by Jordan O'Neal (Mobile, Ala.) pulled the Hornets to within one at 24-23 with 4:12 to play in the half, before Range gave them the lead at 25-24 with 3:34 to play in the half. Texas Southern was able to close the half on 5-1 run to take a 29-26 halftime lead.

The second half started out much the same way as Texas Southern raced out to a 10-point lead with 14:06 to play in the game before Alabama State was able to pull back to within five at 46-41 with 11:28 to play. The teams traded baskets over the next six minutes before Alabama State used a Range jumper with 5:25 to play (57-53). From that point, Texas Southern was able to put the game away with free throws.
 
UP NEXT
Alabama State returns to action on Saturday night against Bethune-Cookman in the Bridge Builders Classic in Mobile (Ala.) at the Mitchell Center. The game will be played on the campus of the University of South Alabama and is scheduled to tip at 7 pm.

QUOTES from head coach Mo Williams
"It was tough, it's tough. I thought we played a tough game against a really good basketball team. And on the road. It was just those 50-50 things that didn't go our way, it just didn't go our direction. You just have to chalk it up and get ready for Bethune."

"We kept our composure. We told our guys to take a deep breath and keep executing and things would change. And it did. I thought the guys did a good job of staying with it and got it to a five -point game."

"Obviously coming off the road after dropping two, you are excited to get back home. We get to sleep in our own beds next week and take a day trip down to Mobile and put on our shows for our fans. I am looking forward to it."

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