Braves Push Around Cyclones Early, Iowa State Prevails in Second Half

AIMES, Iowa – The Alcorn State University men's basketball program led for 15 of 20 minutes in the first half, but Iowa State was able to shake off the Braves in the second half for a 78-58 final Sunday at Hilton Coliseum.
 
The Braves (2-8) came out on fire and made their first four shots in the game and held leads of 8-0 and 11-3. Alcorn was still on top near the end of the half until the Cyclones (7-2) made a shot at the buzzer to go up 33-32 into the break.
 
Iowa State opened the second half on a 9-0 run and led by as many as 16 a couple times. The Braves fought until the end and got the deficit back down into single-figures with under six minutes left, but the Cyclones were able to close strong.
 
Sophomore Devon Brewer registered career-highs of 15 points and six rebounds. He was 7-for-10 from the field and played a career-high 32 minutes.
 
Also reaching double-figures, junior Dante Sterling netted 12 points and senior A.J. Mosby finished with 10 points, five rebounds and five assists.  
 
The Cyclones were guided by Donovan Jackson who scored a game-high 25 points including seven three-pointers.
 
Three-pointers by sophomore Yalen Reed and senior Avery Patterson, and a lay-up by Brewer got Alcorn ahead 8-0. A long-range shot by Sterling kept the Braves in front 11-3 at the 16:43 mark.
 
The Cyclones came back to tie it 14-14, but Alcorn leaped back in front 22-17 with 10:43 to go after a jumper by Brewer and a long-distance shot by sophomore Maurice Howard. The Braves were still on top 28-25 after a lay-up from freshman Troymain Crosby with 3:38 remaining.
 
The Braves were clinging to a 32-31 edge when they were holding for the last shot of the half. Alcorn took an early shot, and the Cyclones grabbed the rebound and pushed the other way for a last-second dunk by Cameron Lard.
 
ISU opened the second half on a 9-0 run, and grabbed a 53-37 edge with 13:47 left. The Braves were able to get the deficit down to single-figures, 61-52, after Howard nailed a jumper at the 5:52 mark. The Cyclones played the last five minutes strong and took their biggest advantage 78-55 with 1:19 left.
 
The game featured four ties and seven lead changes.
 
Up next, the Braves return home Tuesday when they host Fisk University at 7 p.m. at the Davey L. Whitney Complex. Alcorn is 2-1 at home this year and 13-3 over the last two seasons.
 
NOTES
- Sunday marked just the second-ever meeting between Alcorn and Iowa State. The Cyclones finished on top 87-58 in the season-opener in 1996-97.
 
- It was Alcorn's first game in nine days after taking the week off for final exams. The Braves were coming off a lopsided 89-50 victory over Rust College on Dec. 1.
 
- ISU only had two steals in the game which was the fewest given up by Alcorn this season.
 
- Brewer broke his previous career-high of 10 points set at Tulane on Nov. 29. He also topped his previous best of five rebounds set twice. Brewer has scored at least nine points in three of the last four matches.
 
- Mosby entered the game leading the SWAC in assist:turnover ratio with a 3.1 mark. He dished out five assists with two turnovers. Mosby reached double-figures in scoring for the fifth time in his last six outings. It was his 24th career double-figure scoring game and eighth this year.
 
- Sterling notched his fifth double-digit scoring game of the season. He drained a pair of three-pointers, and has made at least one in every game this year.
 
- As a team, Alcorn entered the game leading the conference in field goal percentage (.415) and were right on par with a .411 (23-56) mark.
 
Quoting Alcorn head coach Montez Robinson
On the fast start
"We came out focused tonight and didn't have a lot of live-ball turnovers. We were taking a lot of quality shots which was the biggest key. We finished the half though with a letdown when we took an early shot; we were supposed to hold for the last shot. That play carried over into the second half for the first eight or nine minutes."
 
On the travel difficulties getting to Iowa State
"Well, we were coming in rested having nine days off which is what we needed. We definitely gave a great effort tonight considering we had a 23-hour road trip yesterday. We were re-routed from Jackson to Atlanta, we then had a three-hour layover in Memphis and a four-hour layover in Dallas. We didn't get into Iowa until around midnight last night. So, with being on planes and buses all day yesterday, I was really pleased with how we came out tonight and the effort the guys gave."
 
On Devon Brewer's career night
"The coaching staff has really been preaching to him to step up and have a breakout game like he did tonight. We're in a situation where we need him to be more selfish. We have guys out, and when he gets the ball inside he shouldn't pass it out. He should be looking to score or get fouled, and he did that tonight. We'll need him to continue doing those things."
 
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