TEMPE, Ariz. –
Dekedran Thorn scored 19 points and
Dominic Brewton added 11 as Alcorn fell to Arizona State, 76-54 in nonconference men's basketball action Sunday evening inside the Desert Financial Arena.
After Arizona State (6-1) jumped out to a quick 8-5 lead in the opening minutes,
Dominic Brewton and
Dekedran Thorn combined for the next five points, respectfully, to lift the Braves to their first lead of the evening at 10-8 with 13:23 remaining in the opening half – following a three-pointer from Thorn.
Jeremiah Kendall would get in on the scoring action for Alcorn (3-4) with a pair of made shots from the foul line to push the lead to 12-9. Alonzo Gaffney's fast break layup followed by Luther Muhammad's foul shot chipped into the Braves lead, before then Thorn connected on the second of his five (5) three-pointers in the contest to put the Braves up 15-14 with 9:36 remaining in the half.
The two teams went back and forth over the course of the next five minutes, using baskets by Duke Brennan for the hosts, while the visiting Braves looked towards
Byron Joshua and Thorn for points.
After a pair of Joshua made free throws, Alcorn led 21-20 with 4:09 remaining in the half.
However, Arizona State went on a 12-2 run to end the opening 20 minutes of play, holding the Braves to just one made field goal over the course of the final 6:43 in the half.
The Sun Devils would take a 32-23 lead into the locker room at the break.
In the second half, despite a nine-point scoring flurry from Thorn – scoring nine of the team's first 11 points to start the stanza, Arizona State baskets by Warren Washington and Devan Cambridge kept the Braves at bay and the Sun Devils lead in double-digits, 40-28.
Thorn continued to bring the Braves back into with another scoring rally, bringing the lead down to 40-34 with 14:57 remaining in the contest.
Brewton and
Trevin Wade combined for four points, including a Wade dunk and a layup to make the score 45-41, and bringing the Braves to within striking distance once again.
With the lead sitting at 48-43 with 10:06 showing on the clock following a Brewton made free throw, the Sun Devils erupted for a 12-2 run to pull away for good. Desmond Cambridge Jr. connected on a long-range shot, and teammate Frankie Collins poured in four points (two from the foul line) to give the Sun Devils a 60-45 lead with just over six minutes remaining.
The Sun Devils ended the game on a 16-9 run for their sixth win of the season.
On the night, the Braves shot 5-of-23 from three-point range – with all five (5) three-pointers coming courtesy Thorn. That was counter to the Sun Devils who shot 6-of-25 from long range – led by Gaffney and Cambridge with a pair of three-pointers each, respectively.
The Sun Devils were led in scoring by Washington and Cambridge each with 14 points, followed by Gaffney with 10. DJ Horne had five assists for Arizona State.
For Alcorn, it was Thorn leading the way with his game-high 19 points on 7-o-11 shooting from the field overall. Brewton added 13 points, five rebounds and a pair of assists.
Byron Joshua had four assists for the Braves. Meanwhile, Kendall finished with a game-high 10 rebounds for the Purple and Gold.
Alcorn returns to the court Tuesday, Nov. 29, when the Braves travel to Grand Canyon for an 8 p.m. tip-off in Phoenix.
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)
.
