HOUSTON, Texas- Alcorn State University Braves and the Mississippi Valley State University Delta Devils played in a total of four overtimes this season, dropping both contest to Alcorn. For the third contest this season, the game came to the final seconds. This time, the Braves could not send the game to overtime, dropping a 64-61 nail-bitter in the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. The loss eliminated the Braves from the 2016 Southwestern Athletic Conference Tournament.
Alcorn took control early, jumping out to a 15-10 lead with 10:40 left in the first half.
Mississippi Valley tied it on a Ta'jay Henry mid-range jumper at the nine minute mark. The two squads went on a three and a half minute drought before Alcorn's PATRICK ONWENU made a layup to take a one point lead with five minutes to going in the half. The two squads ended the first half on a 10-10 run. Alcorn State took a 29-28 lead on a MARQUIS VANCE three-point shot with four seconds left, after the Braves missed12 straight. The second half was all Mississippi Valley State. The Delta Devils built an 11 point lead in the first 12 minutes of the half, outscoring the Braves 28-16 to take a 56-45 lead with 8:19 left in regulation.
Alcorn kept the game within reach when MARQUIS VANCE sank a clutch 3-pointer with 19 seconds to go to bring the score to 63-61. Alcorn State committed a quick foul to stop the clock. MVSU made the front end of their free throws to take a three point lead with 18 seconds left in regulation. Alcorn State had three opportunities to tie the game, but could not make the basket despite the open look.
The biggest difference in the evenly played game was the three-point shot. Alcorn shot 9.1 percent (2-of-22) from beyond the arc to Mississippi Valley's 23.5 percent (4-of-17).
