Braves Fall at GSU

GRAMBLING, La. – The Alcorn State University men's basketball program couldn't get any momentum on its side after a pair of first half runs by Grambling State in a 77-42 final Monday at the Hobdy Assembly Center.
 
Alcorn (4-12, 0-4 SWAC) was led by sophomore Troymain Crosby's 15 points. Senior Reginal Johnson made his second start of the year and scored 12 points. Sophomore Kobe Wilson made his first appearance in conference after returning from an injury and grabbed seven rebounds.
 
GSU (8-9, 2-2 SWAC) saw Dallas Polk-Hilliard record game-highs of 17 points and 11 rebounds. DeVante Jackson ended with 15 points.
 
The Braves trailed 11-3 early when junior Alonzo Campbell scored a put-back and Howard drilled a three from the corner to cut the deficit to 11-8 at the 13:44 mark. After a GSU basket, Crosby and Howard nailed back-to-back threes to lead 14-13 with 13:16 remaining.
 
GSU held a slight 20-19 edge when it used an 11-0 run, including a trio of three-pointers to grab a 31-19 advantage with 7:45 left. The Tigers ended the half on an 8-0 spurt to lead 39-21 at the break.
 
The Tigers began the second half on a 13-2 run to extend their edge to 52-23 with 15:24 to go. GSU's largest lead was 71-34 with under five minutes remaining.
 
The Braves will return home Monday when they host Mississippi Valley State at 5:30 p.m. at the Davey L. Whitney Complex. Alcorn has won four straight games over the Delta Devils.
 
NOTES
- Alcorn entered the game leading the SWAC in steals with 8.6 per outing. The Braves grabbed 10 including three from junior DeShaw Andrews who ranks first in the league individually.
 
- Johnson notched his 62nd career double-digit scoring outing and seventh this season. He's up to 1,186 career points.
 
- Crosby posted his 17th career double-figure scoring game and ninth this year.
 
Quoting Alcorn head coach Montez Robinson
On the team's mental state coming into the game after two tough losses
"I thought our mental state coming into tonight was pretty good. Early in the first half we were right there. It's like the basket had a lid on it. We had good looks, we just couldn't score a basket. Grambling's length could have played a part of it, and we were rushing it in the paint a little bit, but we had opportunities to score. We were getting solid possessions, we just weren't finishing."
 
On Alcorn's shooting percentage
"I don't know if we've shot this poorly in a game in my four years here. I'm speechless to see us shoot 25 percent. We didn't take care of business. Our last two games were gut-wrenching losses where we let them slip out of our hands. I thought our guys were motivated yesterday at practice, but we came in here today and we didn't put bodies on guys or get tough baskets. We got out-rebounded by a large margin, and we didn't come out and handle business."
 
On where the team is right now
"There's a high sense of urgency. We have to win a game and get the monkey off our back. I really believe in this team and I believe in the talent and the coaches. We've got some pieces, we just have to get them all together at the same time on the same court. When you look at our previous games, we put together a good second half against Prairie View, and a good first half against Jackson State. We've got to play a game where play two good halves – one good half is not good enough. We're in an uphill battle right now but I believe in this team and we'll continue to fight."
 
#FearTheBrave