LORMAN, Ms – DeAndre Davis 7-for-7 performance, propelled Alcorn State over the Blue Mountain College Toppers 68-60 Tuesday night.
Alcorn stormed out the gate and never looked back; jumping out to an 18 point lead with seven and half minute's remaining in the opening half.
"We got the first win out the way, thought the guys early on, in the first five – six minutes played very well," said Head Coach Montez Robinson.
The Toppers began their comeback on a 3-pointer with 6:51 left in the first half. BMC went on a 15-6 run to close the gap to 37-31 going into halftime.
Both teams shot over 55% in the first half; the Braves had their best first half shooting percentage of the season, shooting 59.3% percent. Alcorn's bench outscored Blue Mountain 10-4, while Davis paced the Braves with 10 first half points and four offensive rebounds, leading to eight second chance points.
BMC came within five points prior to Alcorn State going on a 12-5 run to take a 52-40 lead. The Braves coasted the rest of the way, extending their lead by as much as 15 points.
The Braves struggled a bit in the second half shooting 44 percent, while BMC shot 50 percent.
A positive sign, Alcorn State went 20-for-29 at the charity line, the Braves best output of the season. Alcorn did struggle from beyond the arc going 0-for-10.
'We got to take good shots, trying to make them, instead of letting the game come to them," said Coach Robinson
Davis recorded 15 points, six rebounds, and one steal to carry the Braves to victory, while
PATRICK ONWENU recorded 11 points, three rebounds, and one block.
Alcorn returns to practice tomorrow, to work on defense fundamental.
"We got the monkey off of our back, something positive to go in and stay focus in practice," said Coach Robinson, "we have to focus on the defensive side, and solidify our identity defensively. I am still waiting to see the dogs to come out of the guys, we show it in spurts, but we don't sustain it."
The Braves head back on the road to Tennessee to face Tennessee State and UT-Martin this weekend.
