Alcorn Remains Unbeaten at Home with Victory over Rust College

LORMAN, Miss. – Five student-athletes scored in double-figures for the Alcorn State University men's basketball program as the Braves concluded non-conference play with an 83-68 win over Rust College on Thursday at the Davey L. Whitney Complex.
 
Juniors Reginal Johnson and A.J. Mosby both registered double-doubles for the Braves (3-8) with 19 points apiece. Johnson pulled down a career-high 12 rebounds, while Mosby grabbed a career-high 10 boards. Mosby also flirted with a triple-double with a career-high seven assists. He drilled five three-pointers (five-for-seven) in the contest.
 
Another strong performance came from junior Avery Patterson who netted 12 points and dished out a career-high six assists. Sophomore Rahamanh Katumbusi and freshman Yalen Reed tallied 11 points each which matched their career-highs.
 
Senior Marquis Vance made a strong contribution on the glass as he tied his career-high with 14 rebounds. Sophomore TyQuaylon Smith stood out defensively with a career-high three blocks.
 
Rust (1-12) was led by Dominique Brown's 23 points and seven rebounds. Antonio Jones ended with a double-double of 15 points and 17 rebounds.
 
The Bearcats came out hot and jumped out to a quick 8-3 lead. It was their only lead of the game as the Braves answered with an 11-0 run to go up 14-8 after three-pointers by Mosby and Patterson.
 
Rust kept it close and cut the deficit to 25-24 at the 6:33 mark when Alcorn responded with an 8-0 run to surge ahead 38-29 after a pair of free throws by Johnson with 1:45 to go. Katumbusi converted an old-fashion three-point play to propel the Braves ahead 43-29, and they carried a 43-30 advantage into the break.
 
The Braves pushed their edge up to 56-37 at the 16:02 mark of the second half after two more long-range shots by Mosby. Another three-pointer by Mosby gave the Braves their biggest lead of the day, 78-58 with 5:17 remaining.
 
Alcorn will open conference play on Monday, Jan. 2 when it hosts preseason favorite Texas Southern at 7 p.m. inside the Davey L. Whitney Complex. The Braves will stay at home two days later when they take on Prairie View A&M at 7 p.m.
 
NOTES
- The Braves improved to 3-0 at home this season where they've outscored the opposition 259-173.
 
- Johnson notched his 10th consecutive double-figure scoring game and second straight double-double. It marked his 29th career double-digit scoring affair and fourth career double-double. Johnson entered the game ranked third in the SWAC in offensive rebounds (2.7 orpg) and pulled down four. His previous career-high in rebounding was 10 set three times.
 
- Mosby etched his first double-double as a Brave and third double-figure scoring game. He surpassed his previous career-high of 16 points set at Georgia Tech on Dec. 18. Mosby became the first Brave to make five three-pointers in a single game this year. He's the only Brave to start every game on the season.
 
- Patterson poured in his third double-figure scoring game of the year after draining a trio of three-pointers.
 
- Reed submitted his second double-digit scoring contest of the season after he had 11 points against Selma in the home opener. Reed went 5-for-7 from the field and is now 14-for-20 (.700) over the last six games and 21-for-33 (.636) on the year.
 
- Katumbusi recorded his third career double-figure scoring game and first this year. He went four-for-eight from the field with a pair of three-pointers.
 
- Vance pulled down 14 rebounds for the second straight game. He's grabbed at least 10 rebounds 12 times in his career and three times this year.
 
- Alcorn entered the game leading the SWAC in blocks (4.0 bpg) and upped it with eight in the game. It was also first in assists (12.5 apg) and distributed 19 total.
 
- The Braves played their ninth consecutive game without starting center senior DeAndre Davis due to a hand injury. Davis finished third in the SWAC in both field goal percentage (.584) and offensive rebounding (2.5 orpg) last season.
 
- Alcorn outscored Rust 35-2 in bench points and 20-10 in fast break points.
 
Quoting Alcorn head coach Montez Robinson
Opening Statement
"Today wasn't bad. We got back home yesterday at 8 p.m. and had to play a 2 p.m. game today so the guys were a little bit jet-legged. I actually sat a couple guys, Denzel Dulin and Devon Brewer, just to rest them up as they'd been playing a lot. Though I am certainly happy and excited about the win."
 
On Rust being able to push an Alcorn team that's played three games in five days
"They've got a good team. They have some good shooters and athletic guys on the wings. Their post guys really banged and battled in there with my guys. They are a really well-coached team and will do well in their respective league. But on our end, we have to continue to grow and learn, and our freshmen have to keep getting better."
 
On having five double-figure scorers
"That's what we've been trying to get to this season. We just need to play consistent. This is what we needed going into the Christmas break – a win, and guys feeling good about the way they've been playing. We still have a ways to go defensively and will continue to work on it, but overall it wasn't bad."
 
Closing Statement
"I'm really pleased with the way A.J. Mosby played as he was just three assists away from a triple-double. He shot over 60 percent from the field. Johnson does what he always does with 19 points and 12 rebounds – can't complain about that. Marquis had 14 rebounds and I had really emphasized him getting to the glass and rebounding the ball, and he did that. It was really a group effort today."
 
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