Braves Hang Tough with Tulane

NEW ORLEANS – The Alcorn State University men's basketball program led 50-48 at the 7:37 media timeout in the second half, but Tulane used a late run to pull away in the end for a 68-57 final Monday at the Devlin Fieldhouse.
 
A pair of free throws by junior Troymain Crosby had the Braves (3-6) up 50-48, but the Green Wave (8-2) responded with a 13-1 run to jump ahead 61-51 down the stretch.
 
The game featured five ties and nine lead changes.
 
Alcorn's guards turned in big nights to keep the game close. Senior Corey Tillery submitted career-highs of 21 points and eight rebounds, while senior Maurice Howard drained 18 points on 4-of-7 shooting from long-range.
 
As a team, the Braves were hot early and shot .552 (12-23) in the first half. Though, they cooled off late and tallied just a .379 (11-29) shooting mark in the second half.
 
The Green Wave were paced by Teshaun Hightower who ended with 15 points and seven rebounds. Nic Thomas scored 13 points off the bench.
 
Alcorn scored the first five points of the game on a three by Howard and a lay-up by Crosby. The Braves led 14-13 at the 11:19 mark after a three by Tillery.
 
Tulane responded with a big 14-1 spurt to seemingly take control, 27-13 with 7:51 remaining. Though, Alcorn punched back with a 13-2 run of its own, as a steal and fast-break lay-up by Tillery cut the deficit to 29-26 with 3:34 left.  The Braves went into the locker room trailing just 31-28 at the half.
 
The Braves evened it in the second half 35-35 after a lay-in by Tillery with 15:34 to go. A three by Howard gave Alcorn a 43-41 edge with 12:54 left. The Braves continued to fire away and were still ahead 48-46 after a bucket by freshman Dominic Brewton at the 9:33 mark.
 
Alcorn's final lead came on Crosby's two frees throws to make it a 50-48 game.
 
The Green Wave's run started with back-to-back threes by Jordan Walker to lead 54-50. They proceeded to score the next six points on fast breaks and free throws. Alcorn couldn't get the momentum back in the last four minutes to make a run.
 
Alcorn will return home Friday when it hosts Ecclesia at 5:30 p.m. at the Davey L. Whitney Complex.
 
NOTES
- Monday marked the third-ever meeting between the two programs.
 
- Howard and Tillery entered the game ranked second and third in threes made per game with 2.7 and 2.5, respectively. Howard was 4-for-7 and Tillery was 3-for-11.
 
- Tillery's previous highs were 17 points and five rebounds this year. It was his sixth double-figure scoring game as a Brave.
 
- Tillery's 21 points were the most by a Brave in a single game this season. His nine made field goals were also a team-high this year.
 
- Howard registered his 49th career double-figure scoring game and fifth in a row. He was one point shy of his season-high. He's up to 1,067 career points.
 
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