Alcorn State guard Marquiz Baker exploded for 19 second half points to lead the Braves to an 81-75 upset over SWAC leading Jackson State Saturday in the Davey Whitney Complex in Alcorn State, Ms.
The win pushed ASU’s SWAC record to 3-7 and kept them in contention for the 8th and final tournament spot. Overall ASU is now 3-17. JSU fell to 8-2 in the SWAC and were tied with Texas Southern for the best record in the conference before the start of the game. The Tigers are now 12-10 overall.
The Braves led 33-30 at halftime, but the lead continually changed. ASU enjoyed an 11point lead with 10 minutes to play, but the Tigers came back behind the outside shooting of Tyrone Hanson and Jenirro Bush. The Braves scored their last 6 points from the foul line as the Tigers had to foul in order to try to take the lead. Baker made 3 of 4 in that crucial period, these points came in the last 60 seconds of play, and Korey Sanders made 2 pressure packed free throws during that hectic stretch.
Baker led all scorers with 23 points, Kendrick McDonald scored 18, Sanders 14, on mostly offensive rebounds, and Jamar Ragland ended up with 12. Sanders had 13 rebounds to lead both teams.
For the Tigers, Bush led with 22, Hanson followed with 21 and Grant Maxey scored 13. De’Suan Dixon had 12 rebounds for JSU which had 42 compared to ASU’s 39.
JSU lost the game from the free throw line, making only 26 out of 41 attempted.
The Braves connected on 18 of 28. The Braves will host Grambling State at 7:30 Monday in the Davey Whitney Complex.
