TALLAHASSEE, Fla. | Alabama State fought back from a second half deficit to force overtime before falling to Florida A&M 86-83 at the Al Lawson Center on Saturday night.

Juan Reyna (San Antonio, Texas) led Alabama State with 24 points, including four three-pointers, while Jordan O'Neal (Mobile, Ala.) added 15 points and five rebounds. Gerald Liddell (Cibolo, Texas) and E.J. Clark (Dallas, Texas) added 14 each in the loss.

Alabama State came out hot in the second half, getting to within a pair at 18:43 on back-to-back baskets. However, Florida A&M used a mini run to push the lead back to seven. The Hornets continued to work in the second half getting the lead down to one possession including following a dunk by O'Neal with 16:32 to play in the contest.

The Hornets were able to pull within two at 55-53 following a Liddell dunk before Florida A&M was able to knock down free throws.

With the game on the line and under a minute to play Liddell stepped to the line to tie the game up and send it to overtime. In the extra period, the Rattlers jumped ahead quickly but Alabama State fought back into the game with free throws, hitting five of six down the stretch before missing the last to create an offensive opportunity.

The two teams traded baskets throughout the first half with neither able to grab more than a three-point lead until the last five minutes of action. After a basket from Reyna gave Alabama State a 24-22 lead, Florida A&M was able to get some separation over the last five minutes. The Rattlers went on a 9-0 run to take and extend the lead to the biggest at the time at seven, 31-24 with 2:46 to play in the half.

Alabama State was able to end the run with a free throw from Jayme Mitchell (Jackson, Miss.) and the Hornets were able to trim the lead with a free throw each from O'Neal) and Kenny Strawbridge (Rockford, Ill.) with 55.9 seconds to play, before a basket from Bryce Moragne with just 2.7 seconds remaining in the half extended the lead to eight at the break.

Up Next
Alabama State heads south Daytona Beach (Fla.) for a nationally televised contest against Bethune-Cookman on Monday night. The game tips at 9 pm/8 pm (CT) on ESPNU.

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