Braves Stay Competitive in Defeat at NC State

RALEIGH, N.C. – Closing out a tough road stretch, the Alcorn State University men's basketball program was defeated by NC State 87-64 on Tuesday at William Neal Reynolds Coliseum.
 
The Braves (1-4) were led by senior Deshaw Andrews who came off the bench to score 17 points. Senior Corey Tillery knocked down a trio of three-pointers and ended with 15 points. Junior Troymain Crosby finished with 11 points and five rebounds, and has scored in double-figures in four straight games.
 
The Braves were without senior Maurice Howard for the second straight game due to an injury he sustained at practice. Howard was a Preseason All-Conference First-Team selection.
 
Alcorn ran into a bit of a buzz-saw as the Wolfpack (4-1) shot .537 (36-67) on their home court. Devon Daniels led the charge with 23 points, and Markell Johnson aided the attack with 16.
 
The Braves got off to a slow start and trailed 11-0 at the 15:08 mark. They got on the board with a three by Tillery, and a lay-up by senior Alonzo Campbell made it 15-5 NC State.
 
Alcorn trailed 24-13 when the Wolfpack created separation with an 8-0 spurt to lead 32-13 with 8:12 remaining.
 
Down 38-18, the Braves got back in it after a three-pointer by Crosby sparked an 8-0 run, as a jumper by junior Kobe Wilson cut the deficit to 38-26 with 4:10 to go. Alcorn got it down to single-figures, 39-30, after Andrews hit a jumper with 2:11 left.
 
The Braves continued to hang around early in the second until an 8-0 run by NC State made it a 57-36 game at the 15:56 mark. The teams exchanged baskets for the last 15 minutes, but Alcorn couldn't find a big run to get back in it.
 
Tuesday marked the first-ever meeting between Alcorn and NC State. The last time the Braves played an ACC opponent was Dec. 18, 2016 when they fell at Georgia Tech 74-50.
 
Alcorn will return home Thursday when it hosts Our Lady of the Lake at 5:30 p.m. at the Davey L. Whitney Complex.
 
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