LORMAN, Miss. – Coltie Young buried a three-pointer with 11 seconds remaining, while
Byron Joshua's potential game-winning layup fell short of the mark on the other end Monday evening to see Jackson State defeat Alcorn by a count of 67-66 in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) and home-opener for Braves Men's Basketball inside the Davey L. Whitney Complex.
Alcorn (3-10, 0-1 SWAC) held a 47-39 lead with just over nine minutes remaining in the contest when
Dekedran Thorn's fast break layup was good off a steal by
Byron Joshua.
Jackson State (2-10, 1-0 SWAC) chipped into the lead a number of times across the final 20 minutes of play, getting the deficit to within 53-50 off the strength of Keiveon Hunt's three-pointer with 4:02 showing on the clock. However, the Purple and Gold used a steal and layup from Thorn, added a
Jeremiah Kendall jumper inside the paint, to push the Braves lead back to seven (57-50) in a span of 50 seconds.
A quick 6-0 run sparked by a jumper and free throws from Coltie Young and followed by another Young shot from long range – one of the guard's game-high tying three (3) three-pointers in the contest, pulled the visitors to within 57-56. It was the closest JSU had been to the Braves since trailing 23-22 in the opening half.
Joshua was fouled with 13 seconds remaining, but connected on just one of two at the line to extend the Alcorn lead at 66-64, and keeping the Tigers within striking distance.
That set the stage for a quick rebound off the missed second free throw attempt, as JSU's Adams collected the rebound and pushed the outlet pass to Young, as he hit the eventual game-winner with 11 seconds remaining.
Just moments later, Joshua had a chance to steal the win right at the death for the Braves, but his layup rimmed out and sealed the win for the visiting Tigers.
The opening half was a back-and-forth affair until a
Keondre Montgomery three-pointer was followed by a
Trevin Wade shot from beyond the arc to see the hosts open a five-point lead at 19-14 with 5:38 remaining in the half.
JSU's Jamarcus Jones would throw down a couple of fast break dunks, but each Tigers run was answered in kind by
Dontrell McQuarter and Kendall timely basket on the other end of the court. Back-to-back free throws by Joshua allowed the Purple and Gold to hold a 25-22 edge as the teams went to the locker room at the half.
Jackson State was led in scoring by Jones with his game-high 26-point performance, as he shot 10-of-12 from the floor, going on to add five rebounds and a pair of steals. Young was also in double-figures scoring for the Tigers with 11 points. Zeke Cook supplied JSU with eight rebounds.
Three Alcorn players registered double-figures scoring, led by Montgomery with 18 points and seven rebounds. Kendall poured in 12 points and brought in nine rebounds, while teammate Thorn added 10 points and five boards.
Alcorn returns home for the second of three home games to begin the 2023 calendar year as the Purple and Gold welcome SWAC foe Alabama A&M to the Davey L. Whitney Complex on Saturday, Jan. 7, at 4 p.m.
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