Alabama State at LSU

Nov. 10 | 4 p.m. | Watch: SEC +

Pete Maravich Assembly Center | Social Media: @BamaStateSports | #SWARMAS1

BATON ROUGE, La. – The Alabama State men's basketball team returns to the hardwood and treks to Baton Rouge. They will match up with the LSU Tigers of the Southeastern Athletic Conference.

This is only the second time Bama State and LSU will meet on the basketball court, with the last meeting occurring last season. The Tigers defeated the Hornets 74-56.

Recap from 2023 game at LSU
TJ Madlock, then a junior, scored 18 points, hitting 7-of-16 shots from the floor including three three-pointers. He also finished with seven rebounds. Isaiah Range added 15 points and three assists, while CJ Hines added 13 points and three assists.

Ubong Okon led Alabama State with 14 rebounds.

LSU outscored ASU 44-22 in the second half behind four players in double figures led by Mike Williams II with 15 points (13 of those in the second half). Jalen Reed added 13 points and seven rebounds while Jordan Wright added 13.

How It Happened
ASU used an 8-0 run to close the first half and take a 34-30 lead over the Tigers despite shooting just three free throws to 13 for LSU.

LSU went on a pair of runs to take the lead in the second half and pull away, beginning with a 13-0 run early to take the lead. They also added a 7-0 run to take their biggest lead of the night with 2:30 to play.

The Tigers finished the night shooting 65.2 (15-of-23) percent from the free-throw line compared to 37.5 (3-of-8) percent for Alabama State.

ASU outscored LSU in second-chance points (15-9) while being held to just 11 fast break points.

Madlock and Hines each scored in double figures for the eighth time this season, while Range scored in double figures for the fourth time in five games.

ASU shot 36.1 (22-of-61) percent from the floor and 34.6 (9-of-26) percent from beyond the arc, while LSU shot 52.1 (25-of-48) percent from the floor and 39.1 (9-of-23) percent from beyond the arc.

Season Tickets on Sale
Season tickets are now on sale for the upcoming 2024-2025 men's and women's basketball teams.

Season ticket packages start at just $40.

Contact Keith McCluney at kmccluney@alasu.edu or 334-625-9849 for information about courtside seating.

The Hornets and Lady Hornets are primed to make a run for the SWAC championship. Catch the action at the Dunn-Oliver Acadome and support the Black & Gold!

Click here to purchase season tickets

Returners
The Hornets return seven student-athletes from last season and boast a veteran-laden squad: Amarr Knox, CJ Hines, Micah Octave, TJ Madlock, Jasteven Walker, Ubong Okon, and D'Ante Bass return.

Trio Named to All-SWAC Preseason Team; SWAC Preseason No. 5
The Southwestern Athletic Conference announced its 2024-25 SWAC Men's Basketball Preseason Awards and predicted order of finish.

Madlock was named First-Team All-SWAC and Hines and Okon were voted Second-Team All-SWAC.

Madlock, a dynamic scorer for the Hornets, averaged a team-best 15.8 points per game and shot 37.6 percent (160-for-426) from the field in 2023-24. The Memphis, Tennessee native added 126 rebounds and 72 assists while recording 13 blocks. Madlock is known for his durability. He played 998 minutes and appeared and started in 32 games.

Hines, an Atlanta, Georgia native, is a great facilitator and can score. Hines led the team last season with 84 assists and averaged 9.7 points per game in 2023-24. Hines, listed at 6-foot-2, 190 pounds, is a dynamic 3-pointer shooter and shot 35 percent (49-for-140) from beyond the arc. Hines added 91 total rebounds and 32 steals.

Okon is a 7-foot-1, 230-pound post player who causes problems for opposing teams in front of the basket. Okon, a Akwa Ibom, Nigeria native, tallied 38 blocks and averaged 6.3 rebounds per game in 2023-24. When the Hornets work the ball inside to Okon, he converts 56.9 percent of his attempts.

2024-25 Preseason Men's Basketball Awards

Offensive Player of the Year
Kintavious Dozier, Grambling State

Defensive Player of the Year
Kenny Hunter, Texas Southern

All-SWAC First Team
Kintavious Dozier, Grambling State
T.J. Madlock, Alabama State
Tidjiane Dioumassi, Southern
Shannon Grant, Jackson State
Chad Moodie, Alabama A&M

All-SWAC Second Team
Grayson Carter, Texas Southern
C.J. Hines, Alabama State
Kenny Hunter, Texas Southern
Ubong Okon, Alabama State
Lorenzo Downey, Alabama A&M

Predicted Order of Finish
Grambling State- 212 (10)
Texas Southern- 200 (3)
Southern- 160 (1)
Jackson State- 153 (1)
Alcorn State- 144 (1)
Alabama State- 122 (1)
Prairie View A&M- 121 (1)
Bethune-Cookman- 109 (2)
Alabama A&M- 106
Arkansas-Pine Bluff- 70
Florida A&M- 63
Mississippi Valley State- 32

Hornets add 8 to 2024-25 roster.
Madlock announced eight additions to his 2024-25 roster. Micah Simpson, Jalen Keago, Tyler Mack, Mario Andrews, Shawn Fulcher, Jerquarius Stanback, Jordon Marshall, and Kevin Alabi signed their national letters of intent to play for the Hornets.

"We signed some guys that can fill some of the areas that hurt us last year.  I think the biggest thing we need to improve on from last year is shooting the basketball," said Madlock. "We rebounded well, and we defended well, one of the things that hurt us is we did not shoot the ball well. We're excited about this incoming class and the guys we've got returning."

Micah Simpson | 6-2 | Morristown, Tennessee (Walters State Community College)
Jalen Keago | 6-6 | Oshkosh, Wisconsin (Pensacola State)
Tyler Mack | 6-6 | Warren, Michigan (Maryland Eastern-Shore)
Shawn Fulcher | 6-0 | Brooklyn, New York (Buffalo)
Mario Andrews | 6-7 | Independence, Alabama (Snead State Community College)
Jerquarius Stanback | 6-9 | Asheboro, North Carolina (Asheboro HS)
Jordon Marshall | 6-1 | Covington, Georgia (Southern Union State Community College)
Kevin Alabi | 6-8 | Toronto, Canada (Skyline National Prep)

Alabama State Selected Play in Prestigious Chris Paul HBCU Challenge
The Chris Paul Family Foundation and the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame announced the merging of the HBCU Tip-Off and Challenge into the exciting Chris Paul HBCU Challenge, set to take place on December 19-20 at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.

Alabama State has been selected to compete in this prestigious event and will play Norfolk State (Thursday, December 19) and Delaware State (Friday, December 20).

"When you hear The Basketball Hall of Fame and Chris Paul, the word that comes to mind is Greatness! I think everyone understands the significance of The Basketball Hall of Fame and there is no doubt Chris Paul will be a Hall of Famer as one of the best point guards ever. Under the leadership of Dr. Ross and Dr. Cable, Alabama State University is honored to be one of the HBCUs chosen to participate in such an amazing event," said Alabama State head men's basketball coach Tony Madlock. "What Chris Paul and his Family's Foundation have done to put a national spotlight on HBCUs is unmatched. Alabama State University is honored and blessed to represent the city of Montgomery and Hornet Nation across the country in this outstanding and meaningful event."

For the first time in their four-year history, both HBCU events will take place concurrently at the same venue. This new event structure enables the Chris Paul Family Foundation and the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame to celebrate the HBCU culture in one location, bringing the authentic atmosphere of HBCU basketball into the Mohegan Sun.

"I'm excited to continue to grow the game of basketball through our HBCU tournaments," said Paul. "These games present a unique opportunity for student-athletes to play on a national stage and receive well-deserved recognition. Collaborating with the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, Mohegan Sun, and our partners provides the commitment needed to support HBCU schools and student-athletes."

Tickets for both brackets of the 2024 Chris Paul HBCU Challenge will go on sale on Friday, September 6, via Ticketmaster and on sale at the Mohegan Sun Arena Box Office starting Saturday, September 7.

Mardracus Wade Selected for the 2024 NCAA Coaches Academy

Mardracus Wade was selected to participate in the 2024 NCAA Coaches Academy this past summer.

The NCAA Basketball Coaches Academy provides current, full-time intercollegiate men's and women's basketball coaches at NCAA member institutions an opportunity to expand their knowledge and insight into the world of intercollegiate basketball coaching. During the academy, selected participants will be trained in a variety of areas that encourage effective coaching at the intercollegiate level, with a focus on the holistic well-being and development of the student-athlete.

Wade begins his third season as an assistant coach at Alabama State. He came to ASU after serving in the same role under Hornets' head coach Tony Madlock at South Carolina State.

After graduating from Hargrave Military Academy in 2010, Wade played four years as a guard at the University of Arkansas. While at Arkansas, he finished in the top eight in school history in steals and the top 20 in made three-pointers.

Upon his graduation with a bachelor's degree in criminal justice and a minor in writing/drama, he played three seasons in the NBA G- G-League with the Iowa Wolves and the Greensboro Swarm.   In 2017, Wade traveled internationally and played point guard for the Germany Nurnberg Falcons BC team and had opportunities to play in both China and Taiwan.

After returning home to Memphis (Tenn.), he continued his passion for basketball by serving as a coach for the Hoop City Basketball Club (formerly M33M), coaching all ages season round. 

In 2019, while pursuing his master's degree, he accepted a Graduate Assistant position under Coach Penny Hardaway at Memphis, He graduated with his master's degree in Sport Commerce in May 2021.