JSU Snatches 60-57 Decision Late

JACKSON, Miss. – Jackson State ended the game on a 9-0 run after making a trio of late three-pointers to prevail 60-57 over the Alcorn State University men's basketball program Saturday at Lee E. Williams Athletic and Assembly Center.
 
Alcorn (7-16, 3-7 SWAC) trailed 51-48 when it went on a 9-0 spurt to grab a 57-51 lead with 3:17 left. Though, it was the Tigers (10-13, 7-3 SWAC) who answered with the final nine points including a three-pointer by Chace Franklin with 17 seconds left to go up 60-57.
 
The Braves had the last possession, but their contested last-second three-pointer was off the mark.
 
Senior A.J. Mosby led Alcorn with 17 points, nine rebounds and three assists. Sophomore Devon Brewer also finished in double-figures with 12 points. Sophomore Yalen Reed swatted a career-high three blocks.
 
The Tigers were guided by Jeremiah Jefferson who made five long-range shots en route to 17 points.
 
Alcorn dominated in the paint 30-8, but JSU made 11 long-range shots compared to Alcorn's five.
 
The Braves trailed 8-4 early when Patterson scored on a drive and Brewer scored inside on an in-bounds play to even it at the 12:23 mark. Though, the Tigers knocked down outside shots and regained a 17-13 edge with 9:40 remaining.
 
Alcorn trailed just 21-20 after a fast-break bucket by Howard, but JSU responded with a three-pointer and a free throw to lead 25-20 with 5:21 left. The Tigers carried a 31-25 advantage into the break.
 
The Braves opened the second half with a basket in the post by Brewer and a three-pointer by Sterling to quickly cut the deficit to 31-30. However, JSU's Treshawn Bolden made a pair of free throws and an inside bucket to keep the Tigers up 35-30 at the 16:44 mark.
 
Alcorn answered with drives by Mosby and sophomore Devon Brewer to again trail just 35-34, but JSU scored the next four points to keep a 39-34 margin with 13:23 remaining. The Tigers extended it to 47-40 with a three-pointer by Julian Daughtry with 8:18 to go.
 
Mosby then got hot and scored eight straight points including a pair of floaters to give the Braves a 48-47 lead with 7:04 left. On the other end, the Tigers drew fouls and knocked down four straight free throws to regain a 51-48 edge at the 6:15 mark.
 
The back-and-forth battle continued as Sterling and Mosby both drained a pair of free throws to put Alcorn back on top 52-51 with 4:28 left. A step-back three-pointer by Mosby and a basket in the post by Reed increased the advantage to 57-51 and forced the Tigers to call timeout with 3:11 remaining; it capped a 9-0 spurt for the Braves.
 
After a three-pointer by Jefferson, Alcorn called timeout leading 57-54 with 1:44 to go. The Tigers got a stop, forcing a 30-second violation, and then netted a three-pointer by Maurice Rivers to tie it with 1:05 left. JSU got another stop on a missed jumper and Franklin rattled in the game-winning three with 17 seconds left.
 
The game featured six ties and five lead changes.
 
Alcorn will be back in action Monday when it travels to Grambling State for a 7 p.m. tip. GSU won the first meeting this year 72-61, but the Braves have won six of the last eight meetings in the series.
 
NOTES
- The Braves outrebounded the Tigers 44-34.
 
- In his third season, head coach Montez Robinson hoists a 29-17 SWAC record.
 
- Mosby tallied his 34th career double-figure scoring game, 18th this year and fifth in his last six games. He was one rebound shy of his third career double-double. Mosby made six-of-seven from the free throw line.
 
- Brewer notched his fourth double-digit outing of the season. He was a perfect six-for-six from the floor.
 
- Reed became the first Brave to reject three blocks in a single game this year.
 
- Alcorn swatted away five blocks which matched a season-high.
 
- Alcorn continued to play without SWAC Preseason Player of the Year Reginal Johnson. He broke his leg at Tulane on Nov. 29 and has not played since.
 
Quoting Alcorn head coach Montez Robinson
Opening Statement
"We have to learn how to close out games. We came out and played a terrible first half; it was our worst half of the year. We dug ourselves a hole that we should have never been in. We couldn't make free throws and we turned over the ball. Though, the right team was out there in the second half and we showed a lot of fight. We were up six late and just didn't close it out. Jackson State obviously made three three-pointers and two of them were missed assignments on our end. Give Jackson State credit because they made big shots when they counted."
 
On A.J. Mosby
"It was a tale of two halves for him. He had zero points in the first half but came out and scored in the second. It's been the same story the whole year. We need A.J. and Maurice to score from the guard spots and consistency has been one of our achilles heels all year. We have a young squad but we need more consistency on both ends of the floor. We have to communicate better on the defensive end and guard without fouling."
 
Closing Statement
"We just have to keep working. It's as frustrating as frustrating gets. It was a disappointing loss. You're not supposed to lose a game like this, but it's been happening to us. I was pleased with how we played most of the second half and executed for most of it but just lost it at the end. Though, if you really go back and look at it, it was the first half that cost us. I told the guys at half that we were lucky to not be down 20 at that point. We just have to keep working at practice; we fell a little bit short tonight."
 
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