Alcorn Cruises to 93-48 Win over Selma in Home Opener

LORMAN, Miss. – A balanced offensive attack, coupled with a superior defensive performance resulted in a 93-48 victory for the Alcorn State University men's basketball program over Selma University Friday at the Davey L. Whitney Complex.
 
It was a wire-to-wire win for Alcorn (1-2) as it took control early and never trailed.
 
"Tonight was more about what we were doing as opposed to what Selma was trying to do. Everyone came in and contributed and we stayed consistent. We improved upon a lot of the things we wanted to after watching the film from our first two games and working at practice," said head coach Montez Robinson. "We just want to continue to get better and keep building towards conference play."
 
Six student-athletes reached double-figures for the Braves. Juniors A.J. Mosby, Reginal Johnson and Avery Patterson all recorded 14 points. Freshman Maurice Howard tallied 12 points, and senior Marquis Vance and freshman Yalen Reed registered 11 each.
 
On the glass, Reed and Johnson both neared a double-double with nine and eight rebounds, respectively. Vance, who entered the game leading the SWAC in rebounding, pulled down six to go along with his seven assists and a pair of blocks.
 
Selma (0-5) was led by Devante Brown who scored 17 points in 36 minutes.
 
The Braves came out of the gates hot and scored the first 13 points which included a pair of baskets by both Johnson and Dulin. After the Bulldogs chipped into the lead to make it 25-16, Alcorn responded with a three-pointer and lay-up by Mosby to push the edge back up to 30-16 at the 3:40 mark.
 
Alcorn scored the final nine points of the half, including a lob pass to Johnson which he tipped in at the buzzer to give the Braves a 42-22 advantage at the intermission.
 
Early in the second half, the crowd erupted after an and-one dunk by Reed was flushed over a defender. On the following play, Patterson drilled a three-pointer after a feed from Vance to increase Alcorn's lead to 53-30 and cap an 8-0 spurt with 16:39 to go.
 
Still on top 61-37, the Braves used a 9-0 run which included a jumper by sophomore Rahamanh Katumbusi to extend the lead to 70-33 with 7:01 remaining. Alcorn later used an 11-0 run after back-to-back buckets by Johnson to make it 85-42 with 3:36 remaining.
 
The Braves took their largest lead of the game at the very end, 93-48, after a lay-up by freshman Tyler Carter.
 
Alcorn will look to duplicate its performance Tuesday when it stays at home to host Blue Mountain College at 7 p.m.
 
NOTES
- The Braves won their home opener for the sixth year in a row.
 
- The 48 points by Selma was the fewest Alcorn allowed in a game since Jan. 20, 2014 when it defeated Arkansas-Pine Bluff 71-45.
 
- With 11 points, Vance is now up to 995 in his career and is five away from 1,000. He's scored in double-figures every game this season and four consecutive times dating back to last year. It was his 53rd career double-digit scoring game.
 
- The Braves entered the game leading the conference in blocks with 4.0 per contest and upped it with seven in the game. Sophomore TyQuaylon Smith blocked a pair off the bench.
 
- Alcorn carried a big 64-37 rebounding advantage. The Braves have not been outrebounded in a game this season. All 13 student-athletes that played for Alcorn recorded at least one rebound in the contest.
 
- The Braves dominated in the paint where they outscored the Bulldogs 42-20. Alcorn also outscored Selma 22-6 in second-chance points, 21-4 in fast-break points and 39-12 in points off the bench.
 
- Johnson notched his second double-figure scoring game this year and 21st of his career.
 
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