Tigers Claw Their Way to 81-72 Result over Alcorn

GRAMBLING, La. – Despite a career night from senior A.J. Mosby, Grambling State caught fire in the final four minutes to end on top of an 81-72 battle over the Alcorn State University men's basketball program Monday evening at the Fredrick C. Hobdy Assembly Center.
 
The game was tied 71-71 with 3:53 remaining when GSU (12-12, 8-3 SWAC) found its stroke, while the Braves (7-17, 3-8 SWAC) went cold.
 
Mosby registered a career-high 28 points to go along with eight rebounds, six assists and two steals. He drained nine field goals including four from beyond-the-arc. Mosby was also six-of-seven from the free throw line and played a season-high 39 minutes.
 
Junior Dante Sterling also turned in a big outing with 17 points including four long-range shots. Sophomore Devon Brewer reached double-figures with 10 points and swatted a career-high three blocks.
 
The Tigers were guided by Ivy Smith Jr. who recorded 20 points, nine rebounds and six assists. Shirmane Thomas led the team with 21 points, while DeVante Jackson netted 16.
 
Alcorn got on the board first with a jumper by Mosby, but the Tigers responded with a 7-0 run to lead 7-2 at the 17:33 mark. The Braves trailed 10-4 when Mosby converted a four-point play to trim the deficit to 10-8 with 14:28 remaining. A floater and three-pointer by Mosby put the Braves ahead 13-11 with 12:21 left.
 
The team's exchanged baskets for much of the first half until the 4:49 mark when GSU grabbed a 29-23 edge after scoring five straight points. Alcorn answered with inside baskets from junior TyQuaylon Smith and sophomore Tyler Carter to trim the deficit to 31-29 with 2:57 to go.
 
GSU ended the half on a 7-0 spurt to take a 40-32 advantage at the break.
 
Alcorn was down 46-35 early in the second half went it fired back with a 9-0 run including layups by Brewer and Sterling which made it a 46-44 game with 17:24 remaining. The Braves tied it 48-48 after a pair of free throws by Mosby with 16:19 left.
 
The Tigers knocked down a trio of jumpers to leap back in front 57-51 with 11:34 to go. Though, Alcorn came back with a big 11-0 run, capped by a three-pointer by Sterling and a layup by Brewer, to go up 62-57 as GSU called timeout at the 8:35 mark.
 
The back-and-forth battle continued as the Tigers used the long-range shot to come back and take a 71-69 edge with 4:23 left.
 
After a jumper by Brewer tied it, Alcorn went cold from the floor while the Tigers knocked down shots. GSU used a 7-0 run over a four-minute span to take control 78-71 with 34 seconds remaining. The Braves were forced to foul in the end which extended GSU's lead.
 
The contest wrapped up a three-game road swing for Alcorn.
 
The Braves will return home Saturday at 5:30 p.m. when they host Mississippi Valley State at the Davey L. Whitney Complex. Alcorn won the first meeting this year 77-63 on Jan. 13 on the road. The Braves have won three in a row over the Delta Devils.
 
NOTES
- Including tonight's defeat, Alcorn has won six of the last nine meetings against Grambling State.
 
- In his third season, head coach Montez Robinson carries a 29-18 SWAC record.
 
- Mosby entered the game leading the SWAC in assist:turnover ratio with a 2.2 mark, and will improve upon it after finishing with six assists and just one turnover.
 
- Mosby's previous career-high was 23 points set at Mississippi Valley State this season. It was his sixth double-figure scoring game in the last seven contests, 19th this year and 35th in his career. Mosby scored at least 20 points for the fourth time in his career.
 
- Sterling notched his 13th double-digit scoring game this year and second in the last three games. His four three-pointers matched a career-high.
 
- Brewer inked his fifth double-figure scoring match this season. He became the second Brave to reject three blocks in a game this year after sophomore Yalen Reed did it Saturday at Jackson State.
 
- The Braves came into the game leading the conference in both assists (12.6 apg) and three-pointers made per game (7.8). The dished out 13 assists and drilled 10 threes. Alcorn shot 10-24 (.417) from long-range in the game.
 
- 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've got to do better. It's been the same thing the last couple games where we haven't been able to close out a game. It's frustrating, but we have to keeping working to get better. It's tough when the team really battles and does everything to win a game until the last few minutes."
 
On A.J. Mosby
"Players make plays. He did a good job of staying aggressive and getting to the line. Though, down the stretch we just didn't get it done as a team. I take responsibility for every loss, and tonight it just came down to Grambling making plays in the end and we didn't. I feel like a broken record saying over and over that we need to be more consistent and learn to finish games."
 
On figuring out how to play down the stretch
"We've proven we can get it done when there's no pressure, but we haven't figured out how to do it in the end. I don't know whether it's changing personnel, but it's my job to make sure we have our best players on the court at the right moments. We have to execute the plays and make the shots in big moments."
 
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