Alcorn Bows Out of SWAC Championships at PVAMU

PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas – Four scored in double-figures for the Alcorn State University men's basketball program, but Prairie View A&M advanced with an 87-71 decision on its home floor Tuesday in the quarterfinals of the SWAC Championships at the William J. Nicks Building.
 
The seventh-seeded Braves (11-21, 7-11 SWAC) trailed by five at half when they came out hot in the second and led at the 16:10 mark. Though, the second-seeded Panthers (16-17, 12-6 SWAC) used a run midway through the second half and Alcorn was never able to regain control.
 
The turning point came with 10:20 left in the second when the Braves were down three and PVAMU missed a three-pointer. Both sophomore Devon Brewer and junior Dante Sterling came down with the rebound simultaneously and were wrestling for it, and traveling was called after neither student-athlete was able to maintain balance with the ball. The Panthers took advantage of the second opportunity and buried a three-pointer to get the momentum on their side; PVAMU caught fire after that play.
 
Freshman Troymain Crosby made his second start of the season and cashed in with 17 points and 11 rebounds to lead the team in both categories. Sterling came off the bench to record 15 points and five rebounds.
 
In his final game as a Brave, senior A.J. Mosby tallied 14 points and five rebounds. Mosby was an All-Conference Second-Team selection.
 
Sophomore Maurice Howard also reached double-figures with 15 points.
 
The Panthers were guided by Gary Blackston who scored 21 points. J.D. Wallace ended with 16 points and 11 rebounds, and Troy Thompson ended with 18 points.
 
Alcorn held a slight 14-10 edge early after a three-pointer by Mosby and a lay-up by Crosby.
 
The Panthers responded with an 8-0 run to take an 18-14 advantage at the 12:38 mark. The Braves called timeout with 9:05 left after PVAMU built a 26-16 lead.
 
PVAMU led by as many as 13 in the half, but the Braves ended the period strong with an 8-0 run. It included a put-back by Brewer and a lay-up by Howard at the buzzer to cut it to 37-32 at the intermission.
 
The Braves opened the second half with a three-pointer by Mosby to make it a two-point game 37-35. A drive by Mosby and a fast-break lay-up by Howard put Alcorn in front 43-42 with 17:40 to go.
 
The Panthers fired back with six straight points to regain a 53-47 lead at the 13:02 mark. An outside jumper by Zachary Hamilton extended it to 60-52 as a timeout was called with 9:23 left. A four-point play by Thompson increased PVAMU's edge to 67-56 with 7:20 remaining.
 
The Braves fought until the end, but outside shots were falling for the Panthers and Alcorn was unable to get the deficit back down until single-figures in the last seven minutes.
 
PVAMU only turned it over nine times on the night and was able to force 17 from Alcorn.
 
The game featured four ties and nine lead changes.
 
NOTES
- Mosby ended his two-year career at Alcorn with 818 points, 300 rebounds, 211 assists and 89 steals. He shot .400 this year from three-point range which was the third-highest clip in school history. Mosby also shot .866 from the free throw line which was second-highest in the Alcorn single-season record book. He tallied 43 double-figure scoring games in two seasons with two double-doubles and seven 20-plus scoring affairs. Mosby reached double-digits in scoring 27 times this year. He started every game of his career.
 
- Howard broke the school record for most three-pointers made in a season with 74. He surpassed the mark of 73 set by Cedric Foster in 1994-95 and Jonathan Boyd in 2009-10. Howard notched his 22nd career double-figure scoring game and 14th this year. He was 6-of-12 from the field.
 
- Crosby submitted his second double-double, 11th double-figure scoring game and fourth in a row. His 11 rebounds tied his career-high set at Alabama A&M on Feb. 17. Crosby was 8-for-13 from the floor. He averaged 16.8 points per game over the final four contests.
 
- Sterling notched his 20th double-digit scoring out of the year and fifth in a row. He was 6-of-7 from the free throw line.
 
- Alcorn entered the game ranked first in the league in both three-pointers made (7.6 3pg) and assists per game (13.2). Though, the Braves were below their normal marks with four three-pointers made and 11 assists.
 
- The Braves were without SWAC Preseason Player of the Year Reginal Johnson. He broke his leg at Tulane on Nov. 29 and missed the remainder of the season. Alcorn was also without starting guard Avery Patterson due to a high ankle sprain.
 
- Alcorn head coach Montez Robinson completed his third year at the helm. He hoists a 33-21 record in conference games.
 
Quoting Alcorn head coach Montez Robinson
Opening Statement
"We came out with a lot of energy and effort tonight, and the game plan was on-point. We lost focus at key moments and had lulls throughout the game which is something we talked about all year. Both teams were going hard to the bucket tonight, but maybe PVAMU was a little more aggressive since they were getting to the line more. There's a lot that we'll be able to take away from this game and build off of for the future. Give credit to PVAMU, they took advantage of our turnovers and it was tough for us to overcome so many."
 
On coming out strong in the second half and taking the lead
"We were dialed in to start the second half and the focus was there. The key was we were able to stop the straight line drives by PVAMU and also get rebounds. It really started in the last few minutes at the end of the first half, and I told them that we need to keep that same intensity at in the second half. I felt that we left it all out on the floor despite the drop-offs we had."
 
On the traveling call where two of his players had the ball at the same time
"That play was back-breaking for us. It was a killer. We had gotten three stops in a row before that play and had come up with the rebound but neither of our players would let-go of the ball. PVAMU got really hot after that and it turned into about an eight-point swing after the shots they started making. For us, we just can't have those drop-offs. We talk about it all the time and PVAMU made championship plays and we didn't. That was a crucial part of the game and PVAMU made plays when it counted."
 
Quoting senior A.J. Mosby
On what he'll remember most about his time as an Alcorn student-athlete
"I'll remember all the fun times we had and the relationships I built. My teammates and I had fun on the court, in the locker room and off the court. I feel I grew as a man here and Coach Robinson and the staff have prepared me for the real world."
 
On what advice he'll give his teammates and all the returners for next year
"To all the guys coming back next year, I told them that next season starts the moment we get back on campus. They have to take care of business on the floor, off the floor, in the weight room, in the classroom and it all starts when we get back. If they continue to build character and do the right things then everything will come together."
 
Quoting freshman Troymain Crosby
On his reaction when he found out he was starting
"I don't know that I had much of a reaction. I come out with the same energy every night regardless of whether I'm starting or not. I play with the same intensity and go as hard as I can every time I take the floor, and it doesn't matter if I start or come off the bench I'll play with the same attitude. I just want to do as much as I can to help the team and get my teammates going."
 
On his level of confidence coming into the game
"My confidence is always really high on the court. I don't really pay attention to the stat lines, I just give it all I've got every time I get the opportunity. The individual stats don't matter and the only thing I look at are wins and losses."
 
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