Warhawks Barely Escape Braves in Overtime 73-72

MONROE, La. – The Alcorn State University men's basketball program gave the University of Louisiana Monroe everything they could handle in a 73-72 overtime decision Saturday at Fant-Ewing Coliseum.
 
Alcorn (0-2) trailed 66-61 with a minute left in regulation when senior Corey Tillery drilled a three-pointer. After a foul, the Warhawks (2-0) missed the front end of the 1-and-1 and junior Troymain Crosby went down the other way and hit a jumper in the paint with 20 seconds left to tie it 66-66.
 
The Warhawks did not get a shot attempt up in the closing seconds.
 
In overtime, Alcorn went up 72-70 on a jumper by Tillery with 1:02 remaining. Though, the Warhawks regained the lead after making one of two free throws, blocking a shot and knocking down two free throws with 20 seconds to go.
 
Down 73-72, Alcorn had a pair of opportunities at the very end. A jumper with three seconds left was off the mark, and an offensive rebound and put-back was missed in the last second.
 
Crosby notched 17 points and was one rebound away from a double-double with nine. Tillery and senior Deshaw Andrews also reached double-figures with 11 points apiece.
 
For the second straight game, the Braves outrebounded the opposition 40-37.
 
The Warhawks were paced by JD Williams who netted 17 points. Michael Ertel aided the attack with 16 points. As a team, they shot .538 (28-52) from the field, and limited Alcorn to a .384 (28-73) clip.
 
The Braves led 10-7 early when the Warhawks used an 11-0 run to leap in front 18-10 at the 11:28 mark. A three-pointer by senior Maurice Howard trimmed the deficit to 24-19, and a three by Andrews cut it to 28-25 with 6:47 remaining.
 
The Warhawks ended the half on an 11-2 run to carry a 38-27 edge at the break.
 
The Warhawks took their largest lead of the day 44-31 after a lay-up by Ertel with 17:38 to go.
 
Still down by 12, Alcorn got back in it with a 10-0 spurt, which included four points from senior Alonzo Campbell to trail 46-41 with 15:00 left. A three-pointer by junior Isaiah Attles made it a 55-52 game with 9:00 left.
 
The Braves came within three, 64-61, after Tillery knocked down a three-pointer on the fast break with 1:07 remaining. The jumper by Crosby with 20 seconds left tied it for the first time in the second half.
 
In overtime, the Braves struck first with a dunk by junior Kobe Wilson. They stayed ahead 72-70 on a field goal by Crosby with 1:02 remaining. Though, they didn't score again as the Warhawks took the lead via the free throw line and got a stop at the very end.
 
Alcorn will play its home-opener Tuesday when it hosts Paul Quinn at 6 p.m. at the Davey L. Whitney Complex. Admission to the game is free.
 
NOTES
- Alcorn has outrebounded both of its opponents this season. It started by posting a 43-39 edge on the glass at DePaul on Tuesday.
 
- Andrews has scored in double-figures in back-to-back games. He submitted 12 points at DePaul and 11 today. He's up to 14 career double-figure games.
 
- Crosby registered his 28th career double-digit scoring game. He was one rebound shy of his fourth career double-double.
 
- Tillery, a graduate transfer from Tennessee Tech, notched his first double-figure scoring game in an Alcorn uniform. He knocked down a trio of three-pointers.
 
- With nine points in the game, Howard is now just 12 points away from reaching the 1,000 mark in his career. He also dished out four assists in the game, and sits at No. 8 all-time in school history with 234. Howard logged over 40 minutes, and it was his 13th career 40-minute outing.
 
- Alcorn ranked second in the SWAC in three-point percentage defense last year, limiting the opposition to a .312 mark. It held the Warhawks to a .182 (2-11) clip in the game.
 
- The Braves are in the midst of another loaded non-conference schedule. It already played DePaul, and will also travel to Memphis, N.C. State, Little Rock, Tulane and Santa Clara.
 
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