After Defensive Standoff, Alcorn Outpaced in UTEP 2nd Overtime

EL PASO, Texas – For the fourth consecutive game this season, the Alcorn Braves (2-2) delivered a gutsy road performance with attacking defense at the core, this time opening play at the Jim Forbes Classic against host UTEP. Although the Braves battled back from a 12-point deficit to not only claim a second-half lead, but also force two overtimes, the Miners were able to separate in the second bonus period and down the Braves 73-61. The Braves are back in action tomorrow against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.
 
The Braves put 12 players into action against the Miners to open the three-game tournament at UTEP's Don Haskins Center, with seven players putting a score on the board Tuesday night. However, in an extremely tight defensive struggle, the Braves were limited to 30.4 percent shooting, while the Miners hit for 45.5 percent.
 
The Braves stunned the Miners initially, putting the first five points on the board and fending off UTEP advances until the 14:54 mark, when Otis Frazier III hit a turnaround hook shot for the 8-7 UTEP lead. Scoring was sparse for both teams over a seven minute stretch, but the Miners built up some steam on free throws before Dontrell McQuarter snapped a field goal drought and ended a 6-1 UTEP push with 6:43 on the clock.
 
Frazier quickly countered, combining with a Shamar Givance three and a Jamari Sibley reverse layup to begin moving away from Alcorn on the scoreboard. Dekedran Thorn broke up another 7-0 run with a pair of free throws at 3:20. The Braves trailed eight at the break, 30-22.
 
The defensive battle raged into the second half as the Braves leaned on an attacking zone press, while the offense scrapped its way back into the game. McQuarter pulled up for a jumper at 18:31 that trimmed the deficit to five points, and after a UTEP offensive foul swung the ball back to Alcorn, Byron Joshua drained a jumper off a pick to cut it down to three.
 
The Braves kept UTEP off the board until 15:38 in the period.
 
After the Miners rebuilt some of their lead, again it was McQuarter helping Alcorn to make a move, taking a Trevin Wade alley-oop behind a loose defense for an easy lay-in at 12:32. Pulling up on the baseline, Joshua cut it back to four. A Jeremiah Kendall offensive rebound for a layup set the table and Joshua collected a steal and found Dominic Brewton for a game-tying slice down the lane.
 
Over the next four minutes, the game saw four lead changes and three ties before the Miners built up five-point advantage in 30 seconds off three free throws and a layup. However, McQuarter stabilized the drought with a 4:53 layup and then grabbed the subsequent defensive board to find Brewton for a layup that trimmed the deficit to a single point at 48-47.
 
Facing a 53-50 deficit and just over a minute to play, Joshua put down the front end of a pair of free throws and after four consecutive UTEP free throw misses, he drove down the left side of the lane to tie things up at 53-all, sending the game to overtime.
 
In the extra period, Brewton drained a three to push Alcorn ahead and put down three consecutive free throws to stay ahead. However, an untimely flop violation called against the Braves with 19 seconds remaining proved costly, as Trae Hardy drained the technical shot to send the game to double overtime at 59-59 – marking the first double OT for Alcorn since December 13, 2011.
 
In the second overtime, UTEP shot 80 percent from the field, forced four turnovers and outscored Alcorn 14-2 to send the game final at 73-61.
 
Although Brewton didn't score his first points until the final four minutes of the first half, he proved a greater impact as the game progressed, leading all Alcorn players on the scoreboard with a season-high 17 points, also grabbing eight rebounds and four assists. Joshua was just shy of a double-double with 14 points and a career-best nine rebounds. McQuarter finished with nine points and five rebounds on 4-of-7 shooting.
 
It was neither team's night from the line or the perimeter, as the teams were a combined 39-for-71 on free throws and 3-for-40 from three point range. Despite the loss, the Braves held a commanding 53-43 advantage on rebounds, racking up a 21-10 difference on the offensive glass.
 
Play at the Jim Forbes Classic continues on Wednesday, as the Braves will square off with Texas A&M-Corpus Christi at 5:00 p.m. CT. The Islanders (3-2) dropped their first game of the tournament to CSU Bakersfield, 73-63.

Follow Alcorn State Men's Basketball on Twitter (@Alcorn_St_MBB) for all of the latest news and updates. For all Alcorn State Athletics news, follow us on Twitter (@BravesSports), Instagram (@AlcornSports) and YouTube (Alcorn State Sports).