Braves Conclude Grueling Road Trip with High-Scoring Game at UCA

CONWAY, Ark. – The Alcorn State University men's basketball program wrapped-up a five-game road trip to start the 2017-18 season with a 102-76 defeat to Central Arkansas on Sunday at the Farris Center.
 
The Braves (0-5) played five road games in five different states in a 10-day span. Their 76 points scored marked a season-high.
 
UCA (2-2) came out hot and didn't let up. The Bears were led by Jordan Howard who posted 27 points and Hayden Koval who netted 22. UCA shot 35-64 (.547) in the game.
 
Alcorn saw three different student-athletes score 14 points. Freshman Troymain Crosby set his career-high at 14 in just 10 minutes of action. Seniors Reginal Johnson and A.J. Mosby were both able to fend off foul trouble to reach 14.
 
The Braves grabbed eight steals in the game including a career-high three from TyQuaylon Smith who made his first career start. Sophomore Maurice Howard also started for the first time this year and ended with seven points, four rebounds and two steals.
 
Alcorn continued to get contributions deep from its bench and out-scored the Bears 36-27. The Braves also held a 16-8 edge in second chance points after pulling down 10 offensive rebounds.
 
The Braves were out-scored just 50-46 in the second half as the Braves held edges of 20-16 in points in the paint and 11-0 in second chance points.
 
Alcorn will play its home-opener Wednesday when it hosts Yale at 12:30 p.m. at the Davey L. Whitney Complex. The Braves are 2-1 all-time against teams from the Ivy League. The last time an Ivy League team came to Alcorn was in 1983-84 when it beat Columbia 70-49.
 
NOTES
- Johnson is now five points away from reaching 1,000 in his career. He'd be the 39th student-athlete from Alcorn to reach that plateau. Johnson registered his 53rd career double-figure scoring game.
 
- Mosby notched his 20th career double-digit scoring outing. He went 5-9 from the field and hit a three-pointer in 29 minutes.
 
- Crosby tallied his first career double-figure scoring game. He shot 5-6 from the field and a perfect 4-4 from the free throw line.
 
- Alcorn is now 1-1 all-time against Central Arkansas. The last meeting came in the NAIA Playoffs in 1974-75 as the Braves won 88-77 in the Round of 32. The Braves made it to the semifinals that year.
 
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