MONTGOMERY, Ala. | Isaiah Range and TJ Madlock scored in double figures for Alabama State, but it wasn't enough to overcome Southern in a 65-57 Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) loss at the Dunn-Oliver Acadome on Thursday night.
 
Alabama State (12-18, 7-10 SWAC) trimmed a double-digit lead down to two midway through the second half before Southern (18-12, 12-5 SWAC) was able to put the game away with free throws down the stretch.
 
Range finished with 14 points on 4-of-9 shooting from beyond the arc, while TJ Madlock finished with 13 hitting all four of his free throws. Alabama State finished the night shooting 31.7 (20-of-63) percent from the floor and 26.9 (7-of-26) percent from beyond the arc. They also shot a season-high 90.9 (10-of-11) percent from the free throw line.
 
Brandon Davis led Southern with a game-high 31 points while the Jaguars shot 45.8 (22-of-48) percent from the floor and 52.4 (11-of-21) percent from beyond the arc.
 
How It Happened

• The Hornets were held to their lowest scoring output in the first half this season (13) before back-to-back three-pointers from CJ Hines and Kendal Parker pulled them to within four at 25-21 with 2:17 to play in the half.
• Southern was able to grab its biggest lead of the game at 31-21 with 35.5 seconds to play on a Brandon Davis three-pointer, his fifth of the first half and three of his 21 first-half points.
• Alabama State shot 25.0 (8-of-32) percent in the first half and 21.4 (3-of-14) percent from beyond the arc while hitting both of its free throws. Meanwhile, Southern finished the half shooting 42.9 (12-of-28) percent from the floor in the opening half and 50.0 (7-of-14) percent from beyond the arc.
• The Hornets pulled to within two early in the second half (37-35) with 15:20 to play on a Range three-pointer before Southern went on a 10-2 run to extend the lead to 47-37 with 10:31 to play.
• Southern led by nine (56-47) before Alabama State went on an 8-0 run to cut the deficit to 56-55 with 2:12 to play on a Madlock layup off a turnover.
• Alabama State outscored Southern in the second half shooting 38.7 (12-of-31) percent from the floor and 33.3 (4-of-12) percent from the beyond the arc. Meanwhile, Southern finished the second half shooting 50.0 (10-of-20) percent from the floor and 57.1 (4-of-7) percent from beyond the arc.

Alabama State Notes

• Micah Octave continued his torrid pace this season with steals, recording another steal on Thursday night. The steal gives him at least one steal in 28 of the Hornets' 30 games this season.
• Range connected on nine three-pointers in two games with five against Alabama A&M and four against Southern.
• Madlock scored in double figures for the 26th time and Range the 13th.
• With losses by Alabama A&M and UAPB, the Hornets will need a win coupled with a loss by either team or both to earn a spot in the SWAC Tournament with one game remaining in the regular season.

Up Next
Alabama State closes out the regular season with Senior Day at 4 p.m. on Saturday against Grambling State.
 
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