HOUSTON, Texas – Alcorn State University men's basketball put together a hard-fought battle on Monday night but came up just short, falling 77-75 to Rice in a nail-biter at Tudor Fieldhouse.
Alcorn State falls to (0-12, 0-0 SWAC), while Rice improves to (8-3, 0-0 AAC).
Senior guard Jalyke Gaines-Wyatt led the charge for the Braves with 21 points, including a perfect 6-for-6 performance from the free-throw line.
Keionte Cornelius added 14 points on an impressive 4-for-8 shooting from beyond the arc, while
Djahi Binet and
Omari Hamilton chipped in with 9 and 8 points, respectively.
ASU mounted a thrilling comeback in the second half, erasing a nine-point halftime deficit and taking a late lead, but a last-second Rice layup was the difference in the game.
GAME RECAP
First Half – Rice 42, Alcorn 33
- The Braves got off to a strong start, with Jalyke Gaines-Wyatt knocking down back-to-back threes to keep Alcorn State close.
- Rice answered with a barrage of three-pointers, taking advantage of ASU's turnovers to build a 42-33 halftime lead.
- Keionte Cornelius drained two three-pointers late in the half to help the Braves stay within striking distance.
Second Half – Rice 77, Alcorn 75
- Alcorn State came out with energy after the break, sparked by a three-pointer from Omari Hamilton to cut the deficit to single digits.
- A clutch jumper from Julian Lual gave the Braves their first lead at 63-62 with 7:16 remaining.
- ASU's defense tightened, forcing Rice into turnovers and allowing Gaines-Wyatt to capitalize at the free-throw line, tying the game at 67 with just over five minutes to play.
- Both teams traded blows down the stretch, with Gaines-Wyatt's layup tying the game at 75-75 in the final seconds.
- Rice managed a game-winning layup with five seconds remaining, and a last-second three-point attempt by Gaines-Wyatt narrowly missed as time expired.
BY THE NUMBERS
- 21 – Jalyke Gaines-Wyatt led all scorers with 21 points, going 6-for-13 from the floor and 6-for-6 at the free-throw line.
- 47.6% – The Braves were hot from three-point range, shooting 47.6% (10-of-21) for the game.
- 18 – Alcorn State scored 18 points off turnovers, showcasing their defensive pressure.
- 31 – ASU's bench contributed 31 points, a major boost throughout the game.
- 7 – The Braves collected seven steals, led by Tycen McDaniels with two.
UP NEXT
Alcorn State (0-12) returns to action on Sunday, December 22, when they travel to Birmingham, Alabama to take on American Conference foe UAB. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. CST.
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