MONTGOMERY—For the first time this season the Alabama State Hornets had five players in double figures as the Hornets shot past Mississippi Valley State University 90-63.
The 90 points scored by ASU is the most points the team has scored this season, while the ASU defense was its usual self holding the Delta Devils to only 63 points.
ASU shot 49 percent for the game and that includes a blistering 56 percent (15-27) in the second half. The hot shooting was not relegated to the field as ASU shot 86.2 percent (25-29) from the free throw line. The percentage from the free throw line was the best of the season and the 25 made free throws is second only to the 29 free throws the team hit against Arkansas-Pine Bluff earlier in the season.
MVSU had four players reach double digits as Orlando Smith came off the bench to lead the way with 13. Falando Jones and Paul Crosby had 12 points and Kevin Burwell had 11.
The Hornets defense paid special attention to D'Angelo Jackson and held the Delta Devils leading scorer to only three points, all on free throws. Jackson had 28 points against ASU in the earlier game between the two teams.
The Hornets took a 12-point lead (42-30) into the half by holding the Delta Devils to only 35 percent (10-29) shooting and that includes oh-for-six from beyond the three point line.
ASU had a balanced scoring attack in the first half with Sanders coming off the bench to pour in 10 points on five for seven shooting. Butler and White also had eight points in the opening half while the team shot 44.4 percent (16-36) from the field.
ASU won the rebounding battle 40-35 with Moorer leading the way with eight and Sanders grabbing seven. Middlebrooks completed a solid all-around game with seven assists and four rebounds to go with his point production.
To show ASU's domination in the game, the Hornets outscored MVSU 42-36 in the paint, 21-9 off turnovers, 20-19 on second chance points and 43-23 in bench scoring.
“We talked to the guys about being aggressive and attacking the basket on offense,” head coach
Lewis Jackson said. “On defense, we talked about making it harder for our opponents to score around the basket.”
ASU moves to 8-16 overall and 5-6 in the conference with their second consecutive win. MVSU came into the game in second place in the conference, but falls to 9-15 overall and 8-3 in the SWAC.
The Hornets will host Alabama A&M University Saturday, Feb. 12 at 5:30 p.m. ASU will celebrate 75 seasons of basketball with a daylong celebration that will begin at 9 a.m.
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